Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of preparing refractive microlenses in a single step, utilizing laser-induced surface structure formation in semiconductor doped glasses (SDGs). The SDG materials, in conjunction with above-bandgap wavelength laser sources, are used to fabricate lenses that operate with light of below-bandgap wavelengths. In accordance with the teaching of this invention lenses on an approximately 5-500 .mu.m diameter scale are fabricated individually or in arrays by laser irradiation of absorbing glasses. The microlenses have controllable characteristics and can be fabricated to have focal lengths as short as tens of microns. The lenses are generally parabolic or spherical in shape and are highly reproducible.
Abstract:
A low cost method for producing a mechanically and thermally stable composite body containing a first layer of a material with a high silicic acid content and an additional component connected to a second layer of a material with a high silicic acid content and an additional component in a second concentration differina from the first concentration is provided. The method involves (a) preparing a first slurry layer having a free surface using a first shirt mass containing SiO2 particles and an additional component dispersed in a first dispersing agent, (b) providing a second slurry mass containing SiO2 particles and an additional component in a second concentration dispersed in a second dispersing agent, (c) forming a composite-body intermediate product by applying the second slurry mass to the free surface of the first slurry layer, and (d) heating the composite-body intermediate product while forming the composite body.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a metamaterial is provided, comprising providing a sample of engineered microstructured material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation and comprises one or more voids, passing through the voids a high pressure fluid comprising a functional material carried in a carrier fluid, and causing the functional material to deposit or otherwise integrate into the engineered microstructured material to form the metamaterial. Many microstructured materials and functional materials can be used, together with various techniques for controlling the location of the integration of the functional material within the microstructured material, so that a wide range of different metamaterials can be produced.
Abstract:
An amplifier optical fiber comprising a central core of a dielectric matrix doped with at least one element ensuring the amplification of an optical signal transmitted in the fiber and a cladding surrounding the central core and suitable for confining the optical signal transmitted in the core. The fiber also comprises metallic nanostructures suitable for generating an electronic surface resonance in the dielectric matrix of central core, the wavelength of said electronic surface resonance corresponding to an excitation level of the element ensuring the amplification.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a semiconductor metamaterial is provided, comprising providing a sample of engineered microstructured material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation and comprises one or more elongate, high aspect ratio voids, passing through the voids a high pressure fluid comprising a semiconductor material carried in a carrier fluid, and causing the semiconductor material to deposit onto the surface of the one or more voids of the engineered microstructured material to form the metamaterial. Many microstructured materials and semiconductor materials can be used, together with various techniques for controlling the location, spatial extent, and thickness of the deposition of the semiconductor within the microstructured material, so that a wide range of different metamaterials can be produced.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a metamaterial is provided, comprising providing a sample of engineered microstructured material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation and comprises one or more voids, passing through the voids a high pressure fluid comprising a functional material carried in a carrier fluid, and causing the functional material to deposit or otherwise integrate into the engineered microstructured material to form the metamaterial. Many microstructured materials and functional materials can be used, together with various techniques for controlling the location of the integration of the functional material within the microstructured material, so that a wide range of different metamaterials can be produced.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing optical glasses and colored glasses with the aid of a fluid phase sintering process from a basic material encompassing at least SiO.sub.2 powder as well as additives for reducing the temperature of the fluid phase sintering and/or melting process encompassing the following steps: the starting materials are dissolved in any sequence in a fluid medium to produce a solution as far as is possible and a suspension to the extent that they are not dispersed in solution; a greenbody is produced from the dissolved and dispersed starting materials; the greenbody is dried the dried greenbody is fluid-phase sintered at temperatures below 1200° C., in particular in the temperature range from 600° C. to 1200° C.
Abstract:
A quartz crucible having reduced/controlled bubble content is disclosed, comprising an outer layer and an inner layer doped with elements and compounds that: a) react with oxygen and nitrogen at or near the fusion temperature of quartz; and b) form compounds that are thermally stable at temperatures of above 1400° C. and chemically stable in a SiO2 environment. A method to make a crucible having controlled bubble content is also disclosed, the method comprises the step of forming a crucible having an inner layer doped with a material that reacts with residual gases in the bubble such as nitrogen and oxygen and thus consume the gases in the bubbles and empty them in the fusion process.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating an optical fiber preform using a modified chemical vapor deposition method and a nonlinear optical fiber fabricated using the method. The method comprises the steps of: forming a cladding layer and a core layer in a quartz glass tube; partially sintering the core layer; partially shrinking both ends of the quartz glass tube, in which the cladding layer and the core layer partially sintered are formed; and doping a sintered portion of the core layer with an impurity component, so that the optical fiber preform fabricated has a predetermined function. The nonlinear optical fiber being fabricated by a process comprising the steps of: forming the cladding layer and the core layer in a quartz glass tube; partially sintering the core layer; partially collapsing both ends of the quartz glass tube; and doping a sintered portion of the core layer with a predetermined impurity component.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a glass article for use as an optical waveguide fiber and more particularly to an optical waveguide fiber, the core of which is doped with a chalcogenide element to significantly increase the refractive index of the core. The subject of this invention is novel doped silica core compositions wherein a portion of the oxygen in the silica is replaced with either sulfur, selenium or tellurium using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). These compositions are designed to have higher refractive indices than silica, low coefficients of expansion, high optical transparency, and appropriate viscosity and softening points to make them ideal candidates for use as optical waveguide fibers.