The motivation of this research is to meet the growing demand for the measurand high-resolution, high-spatial resolution, attenuation insensitive and low-cost quasi-distributed temperature and strain sensors that can reliably work under harsh environment or in extended structures. There are two main drives for distributed fiber sensor research. The first is to lower cost-per-sensor so that the fiber sensors may become price-competitive against electrical sensors in order to gain widespread acceptance. The second is to obtain spatial distribution of the measurand. This dissertation presents detailed research on the design, modeling, analysis, system implementation, sensor fabrication, performance evaluation, sensor field test and noise analysis of a quasi-distributed intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (IFPI) fiber sensor suitable for temperature and strain measurement. For the first time to our knowledge, an IFPI sensor using a different type of fiber spliced in between two single-mode fibers is proposed and tested. The proposed sensor has high measurement accuracy, excellent repeatability, a large working range and a low insertion-loss. It requests no annealing after the sensor is made, and the sensor is calibration-free. The sensor fabrication is low-cost and has a high yield rate. The goal for this research is to bring this sensor to a level where it will become commercially viable for quasi-distributed sensing applications. / Ph. D.

In this report, detailed and systematic theoretical and experimental study of low-finesse extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) fiber optic sensors together with their signal processing methods for white-light systems are presented. The work aims to provide a better understanding of the operational principle of EFPI fiber optic sensors, and is useful and important in the design, optimization, fabrication and application of single mode fiber(SMF) EFPI (SMF-EFPI) and multimode fiber (MMF) EFPI (MMF-EFPI) sensor systems. The cases for SMF-EFPI and MMF-EFPI sensors are separately considered. In the analysis of SMF-EFPI sensors, the light transmitted in the fiber is approximated by a Gaussian beam and the obtained spectral transfer function of the sensors includes an extra phase shift due to the light coupling in the fiber end-face. This extra phase shift has not been addressed by previous researchers and is of great importance for high accuracy and high resolution signal processing of white-light SMF-EFPI systems. Fringe visibility degradation due to gap-length increase and sensor imperfections is studied. The results indicate that the fringe visibility of a SMF-EFPI sensor is relatively insensitive to the gap-length change and sensor imperfections. Based on the spectral fringe pattern predicated by the theory of SMF-EFPI sensors, a novel curve fitting signal processing method (Type 1 curve-fitting method) is presented for white-light SMF-EFPI sensor systems. Other spectral domain signal processing methods including the wavelength-tracking, the Type 2-3 curve fitting, Fourier transform, and two-point interrogation methods are reviewed and systematically analyzed. Experiments were carried out to compare the performances of these signal processing methods. The results have shown that the Type 1 curve fitting method achieves high accuracy, high resolution, large dynamic range, and the capability of absolute measurement at the same time, while others either have less resolution, or are not capable of absolute measurement. Very different from SMF-EFPI sensors, MMF-EFPI sensors with high fringe visibility usually are more difficult to obtain in practice because the fringe visibility of a MMF-EFPI sensor is much more sensitive to gap-length change and sensor head imperfections. %Previously, only geometric-optics are available to analyze MMF-EFPI sensors which approximate the light in MMF as rays propagating in different directions. Geometric-optics theory has fundenmental limitations because it is approximate and only valid for limited conditions. Moreover, geometric-optics theory is not capable of poviding the exact fringe pattern which is important in the signal processing of white light MMF-EFPI sensor systems. In this report, Previous mathematical models for MMF-EFPI sensors are all based on geometric optics; therefore their applications have many limitations. In this report, a modal theory is developed that can be used in any situations and is more accurate. The mathematical description of the spectral fringes of MMF-EFPI sensors is obtained by the modal theory. Effect on the fringe visibility of system parameters, including the sensor head structure, the fiber parameters, and the mode power distribution in the MMF of the MMF-EFPI sensors, is analyzed. Experiments were carried out to validate the theory. Fundamental mechanism that causes the degradation of the fringe visibility in MMF-EFPI sensors are revealed. It is shown that, in some situations at which the fringe visibility is important and difficult to achieve, a simple method of launching the light into the MMF-EFPI sensor system from the output of a SMF could be used to improve the fringe visibility and to ease the fabrication difficulties of MMF-EFPI sensors. Signal processing methods that are well-understood in white-light SMF-EFPI sensor systems may exhibit new aspects when they are applied to white-light MMF-EFPI sensor systems. This report reveals that the variations of mode power distribution (MPD) in the MMF could cause phase variations of the spectral fringes from a MMF-EFPI sensor and introduce measurement errors for a signal processing method in which the phase information is used. This MPD effect on the wavelength-tracking method in white-light MMF-EFPI sensors is theoretically analyzed. The fringe phases changes caused by MPD variations were experimentally observed and thus the MFD effect is validated. / Ph. D.

Optical fiber sensor multiplexing reduces cost per sensor by designing a system that minimizes the expensive system components (sources, spectrometers, etc.) needed for a set number of sensors. The market for multiplexed optical sensors is growing as fiberoptic sensors are finding application in automated factories, mines, offshore platforms, air, sea, land, and space vehicles, energy distribution systems, medical patient surveillance systems, etc. Optical path length multiplexing (OPLM) is a modification to traditional white-light interferometry techniques to multiplex extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometers and optical path length two-mode sensors. Additionally, OPLM techniques can be used to design an optical fiber sensor to detect pressure/force/acceleration and temperature simultaneously at a single point. While power losses and operating range restrictions limit the broadscale applicability of OPLM, it provides a way to easily double or quadruple the number of sensors by modifying the demodulation algorithm. The exciting aspect of OPLM is that no additional hardware is needed to multiplex a few sensors. In this way OPLM works with conventional technology and algorithms to drastically increase their efficiency. [1] / Master of Science

Miniature pressure sensors which can endure harsh environments are a highly sought after goal in industrial, medical and research fields. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are the current methods to fabricate such small sensors. However, they suffer from low sensitivity and poor mechanical properties. To fulfill the need for robust and reliable miniature pressure sensors that can operate under high temperatures, a novel type of optical fiber tip sensor only 125μm in diameter is presented in this thesis. The essential element is a piece of hollow fiber which connects the fiber end and a diaphragm to form a Fabry-Pérot cavity. The all-fused-silica structure fabricated directly on a fiber tip has little temperature dependence and can function very well with high resolution and accuracy at temperatures up to 600 °C. In addition to its miniature size, its advantages include superior mechanical properties, biocompatibility, immunity to electromagnetic interference, disposability and cost-effective fabrication. The principle of operation, design analysis, fabrication implementation and performance evaluation of the sensor are discussed in detail in the following chapters. / Master of Science

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o estudo e análise da resposta óptica de dispositivos de cristal fotônico uni-dimensional (1D) fabricados através do uso da tecnologia de silício poroso. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho apresentam contribuições significativas no desenvolvimento de uma tecnologia para a fabricação de dispositivos ópticos em silício. As principais contribuições deste trabalho estão direcionadas ao aprimoramento dos processos de fabricação de cristais fotônicos 1D e processos de tratamento térmico. Os resultados da análise estrutural através de microscopia óptica de varredura (MEV) e da resposta óptica (refletância ou absorbância) mostraram que dispositivos de cristal fotônico fabricados em soluções altamente diluídas de HF apresentam melhor desempenho, tendo sido otimizado o processo de fabricação utilizando-se uma célula de duplo compartimento (célula dupla). A otimização da resposta óptica dos dispositivos foi atribuída ao efeito de minimização das rugosidades de interface e minimização de efeitos de anisotropia na taxa de corrosão durante o processo de anodização eletroquímica. O processo eletroquímico utilizado para a fabricação de cristais fotônicos 1D apresentou limitação quanto ao número máximo de camadas, sendo observado que dispositivos com número de camadas acima de 60 apresentavam degradação das suas camadas superficiais, comprometendo a resposta óptica do dispositivo. Este resultado foi atribuído a efeitos de diluição química das camadas expostas à solução por longos períodos de processo. Os dispositivos fotônicos 1D mostraram-se sensíveis a processos de recozimento térmico, deslocando suas bandas fotônicas proibidas para regiões de menor comprimento de onda devido à mudança do índice de refração das camadas e aos efeitos de expansão e compressão das camadas constitutivas do dispositivo. Os dispositivos de micocavidade Fabry-Perot mostraram-se mais sensíveis aos processos de recozimento térmico. Os resultados obtidos no presente trabalho vislumbram grandes possibilidades de aplicação dos cristais fotônicos de PS na fabricação de dispositivos ópticos na tecnologia de silício como filtros, lentes, cavidades ressonantes, guias de ondas, grades de difração e dispositivos sensores. / The aim of the present work was to study and analyze the optical response of one- dimensional (1D) photonic crystal devices obtained by using the porous silicon technology. The experimental results obtained from this work showed the significant contribution to the development of a technological process for optical device fabrication in the silicon substrate. The most important contributions of the work are pointed out to improve the electrochemical process for device fabrication and thermal annealing process in order to improve the optical response of the devices. The results obtained from Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and from the optical response of the devices, showed that devices fabricated in the double cell and diluted HF solution improved their optical response due to minimization of the anisotropy of corrosion rate and decreasing of the surface roughness between layers. The electrochemical process used for device fabrication showed the existence of limitation on the numbers of layers because of the existence of chemical dissolution effect that became important for long time process. The 1D photonic crystal devices in PS technology showed high sensibility to thermal annealing process, due to the refraction index change after thermal annealing the photonic band gap position shift down to low wavelength region. The Fabry-Perot devices showed higher sensibility to thermal annealing process improving their optical response after annealing process. The results obtained from the present work showed that the PS 1D photonic device could be applied to optical devices fabrication in silicon technology such as optical filters, lenses, resonant cavities, wave-guide devices, diffraction grade and optical sensor device.

Cette thèse a pour but l’étude théorique de métamatériaux métalliques empilés. Ces structures sont actuellement proposées pour améliorer et élargir les fonctionnalités des métamatériaux métalliques. Nous portons un intérêt particulier aux propriétés de polarisation de ces structures métalliques empilées.En premier lieu, nous précisons le type de métamatériaux que nous étudions et nous présentons la méthode modale qui nous permet de décrire les propriétés électromagnétiques de la structure. A l’aide d’un Formalisme de Jones Etendu (FJE), développé récemment dans notre équipe, nous faisons ressortir les principales propriétés de polarisation linéaire de ces métamatériaux métallique.En alliant le FJE à l’algorithme de propagation de la matrice S, nous étudions un empilement de deux métamatériaux vus comme un montage polariseur-analyseur. Nous établissons ensuite une expression de la transmission de la structure: la loi de Malus étendue. Cela nous permet notamment de démontrer les résonances de type Fabry-Perot qui ont lieu entre les métamatériaux.Pour des structures plus conséquentes, nous montrons qu’il est possible de réaliser une rotation de la polarisation, à très faible perte et spectralement agile, grâce aux résonances de type Fabry-Perot.Fondamentalement, nous révélons une nouvelle façon d’exciter des résonances Fano qui sont induites par les propriétés de polarisation des métamatériaux. Ces résonances peuvent être utilisées pour des applications de capteur ou de filtrage. De plus, ces résonances Fano induites par la polarisation ouvrent de nouvelles possibilités d’applications pour les empilement de métamatériaux métalliques. / This PhD thesis deals with the theoretical study of stacked metallic metamaterials. Such structures are currently investigated to extend the functionalities offered by single metallic metamaterials. We especially focus on the specific polarization properties of the stacked metallic metamaterials.We first present the type of metamaterial that we consider, and we describe the modal method that is used to model its electromagnetic properties. We outline the linear polarization properties characterizing the metamaterial thanks to an Extended Jones Formalism (EJF) recently developed by our team.In combination with the EJF, we apply the S-matrix algorithm to the study of a stack of two metallic metamaterials in a polarizer-analyzer configuration. We derive an analytical expression for the transmission response of the stacked structure: the Extended Malus Law. Mainly, it highlights the Fabry-Perot-like resonances located between the metamaterials.Using larger stacked structures, we demonstrate that spectrally tunable and low loss polarization rotation can be achieved owing to these Fabry-Perot-like resonances.In essence, we reveal a new way of realizing Fano resonances which are induced by the specific polarization properties of the metamaterials. We show that such resonances can be engineered for sensing or filtering applications. Moreover, the polarization-induced Fano resonances expand the possibilities of stacked metallic metamaterials.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o estudo e análise da resposta óptica de dispositivos de cristal fotônico uni-dimensional (1D) fabricados através do uso da tecnologia de silício poroso. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho apresentam contribuições significativas no desenvolvimento de uma tecnologia para a fabricação de dispositivos ópticos em silício. As principais contribuições deste trabalho estão direcionadas ao aprimoramento dos processos de fabricação de cristais fotônicos 1D e processos de tratamento térmico. Os resultados da análise estrutural através de microscopia óptica de varredura (MEV) e da resposta óptica (refletância ou absorbância) mostraram que dispositivos de cristal fotônico fabricados em soluções altamente diluídas de HF apresentam melhor desempenho, tendo sido otimizado o processo de fabricação utilizando-se uma célula de duplo compartimento (célula dupla). A otimização da resposta óptica dos dispositivos foi atribuída ao efeito de minimização das rugosidades de interface e minimização de efeitos de anisotropia na taxa de corrosão durante o processo de anodização eletroquímica. O processo eletroquímico utilizado para a fabricação de cristais fotônicos 1D apresentou limitação quanto ao número máximo de camadas, sendo observado que dispositivos com número de camadas acima de 60 apresentavam degradação das suas camadas superficiais, comprometendo a resposta óptica do dispositivo. Este resultado foi atribuído a efeitos de diluição química das camadas expostas à solução por longos períodos de processo. Os dispositivos fotônicos 1D mostraram-se sensíveis a processos de recozimento térmico, deslocando suas bandas fotônicas proibidas para regiões de menor comprimento de onda devido à mudança do índice de refração das camadas e aos efeitos de expansão e compressão das camadas constitutivas do dispositivo. Os dispositivos de micocavidade Fabry-Perot mostraram-se mais sensíveis aos processos de recozimento térmico. Os resultados obtidos no presente trabalho vislumbram grandes possibilidades de aplicação dos cristais fotônicos de PS na fabricação de dispositivos ópticos na tecnologia de silício como filtros, lentes, cavidades ressonantes, guias de ondas, grades de difração e dispositivos sensores. / The aim of the present work was to study and analyze the optical response of one- dimensional (1D) photonic crystal devices obtained by using the porous silicon technology. The experimental results obtained from this work showed the significant contribution to the development of a technological process for optical device fabrication in the silicon substrate. The most important contributions of the work are pointed out to improve the electrochemical process for device fabrication and thermal annealing process in order to improve the optical response of the devices. The results obtained from Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and from the optical response of the devices, showed that devices fabricated in the double cell and diluted HF solution improved their optical response due to minimization of the anisotropy of corrosion rate and decreasing of the surface roughness between layers. The electrochemical process used for device fabrication showed the existence of limitation on the numbers of layers because of the existence of chemical dissolution effect that became important for long time process. The 1D photonic crystal devices in PS technology showed high sensibility to thermal annealing process, due to the refraction index change after thermal annealing the photonic band gap position shift down to low wavelength region. The Fabry-Perot devices showed higher sensibility to thermal annealing process improving their optical response after annealing process. The results obtained from the present work showed that the PS 1D photonic device could be applied to optical devices fabrication in silicon technology such as optical filters, lenses, resonant cavities, wave-guide devices, diffraction grade and optical sensor device.

In der vorliegenden Promotion werden zwei ausgewählte Iridate mit Elektronen-Spin-Resonanz untersucht. Bei der ersten Probe handelt es sich um das Doppelperowskit Ba2YIrO6, das nach simpler theoretischer Auffassung kein paramagnetisches Signal besitzen sollte. Allerdings zeigen unterschiedliche magnetische Messungen schwache magnetische Spinkorrelationen. Mit Hilfe von ESR kann die Ursache dieser Signale paramagnetischen Verunreinigungen zugeschrieben werden. Zudem kann der Ursprung dieser Defekte mit zwei unterschiedlichen Oxidationsstufen des Iridiums assoziiert werden.    Bei der zweiten untersuchten Iridat-Probe La2CuIrO6 handelt es sich ebenfalls um ein Material mit Doppelperowskit-Struktur, allerdings interagieren hier zwei grundlegend verschiedene Spinsorten miteinander. Zum einen der sich aus der starken Spin-Bahn-Kopplung ergebende Jeff=1/2 Pseudospin des Iridats und zum anderen der reine S=1/2 Spin des Kupferions. Innerhalb der Kristallstruktur ergibt sich daraus eine komplexe antiferromagnetische Spinstruktur mit einer kleinen Verkippung der Spins. Diese nicht-kollineare Spinanordnung geht auf die Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya-Wechselwirkung zurück und führt letztendlich zu einem kleinen ferromagnetischen Nettomoment. Mit ESR konnte dabei vor allem die temperaturabhängige Wechselwirkung der einzelnen Untergitter gezielt untersucht werden. Zusätzlich zum experimentellen Teil war eine der Kernaufgaben dieser Arbeit die technische Realisierung eines Fabry-Perot Resonators. Ziel des Resonators ist dabei die Erhöhung des Signal/Rauschverhältnisses sowie die Implementierung die Probe innerhalb der Messapparatur zu rotieren. Um ein besseres Verständnis des zugrundeliegenden Resonanzverhaltens zu erhalten, wurden zudem einige Simulationen zum Verhalten der elektromagnetischen Wellen innerhalb des Resonators durchgeführt.

Ce travail de recherche a été mené afin d'introduire une nouvelle classe de résonateurs Fabry-Pérot (FP) : les cavités FP incurvées basées sur des miroirs de Bragg sans revêtement, de forme cylindrique sont obtenues par micro-usinage du silicium. Une autre spécificité est la longueur de la cavité relativement grande (L> 200 µm) combinée à un haut facteur de qualité Q (jusqu'à 10^4 ), pour répondre aux applications de type spectroscopie d'absorption améliorée par résonance optique, dans lesquelles le produit Q.L est une figure de mérite. Dans ce contexte, l'architecture de base a été modélisée analytiquement pour déterminer les modes transverses d'ordre élevé supportés par de telles cavités. Par conséquent, les conditions expérimentales qui conduisent à une excitation préférentielle (ou rejet) de ces modes ont été testées menant à la validation de notre modèle théorique et à une meilleure compréhension du comportement de la cavité. Une seconde architecture,basée sur la cavité FP incurvée avec une lentille cylindrique a été développée dans le but de fournir une architecture plus stable. Cette dernière a été également modélisée, fabriquée et caractérisée, menant à l'amélioration attendue en termes de performances. D'un autre côté, un point surlignant l'une des applications potentielles que nous avons identifiées pour les cavités incurvées est présentée en insérant la cavité dans un système électromécanique. Ceci consiste à exciter et mesurer les vibrations d'amplitude nanométrique par couplage opto-mécanique dans un résonateur mécanique MEMS intégrant une cavité optique FP. Enfin, comme complément à notre étude sur les résonateurs, nous avons commencé à explorer les applications des interféromètres optiques à base de miroirs de Bragg en silicium. À cette fin, un microsystème de mesure optique a été conçu, fabriqué et caractérisé, il consiste en une sonde optique pour la profilométrie de surface dans des milieux confinés, basé sur un interféromètre de Michelson monolithique en silicium / This research work has been conducted to introduce a novel class of Fabry-Perot (FP) resonators : curved FP cavity based on coating-free Bragg mirrors of cylindrical shape, obtained by silicon micromachining. Another specificity is the rather large cavity lengths (L>200 µm) combined with high quality factor Q (up to 104), for the purpose of applications requiring cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy, in which the product Q.L is a figure of merit. In this contest, the basic architecture has been modeled analytically to know the high order transverse modes supported by such cavities. Hence, the experimental conditions which lead to preferential excitation (or rejection) of these modes have been tested experimentally leading to the validation of our theoretical model and to a better understanding of the cavity behaviour. A second architecture, based on the curved FP together with a fiber rod lens has been developed for the purpose of providing stable designs. It was also modeled, fabricated and characterized leading to the expected performance improvements. On another side, a highlight on one of the potential applications that we identified for the curved cavities is presented by inserting the cavity into an electro-mechanical system. It consists of exciting and measuring tiny vibration through opto-mechanical coupling in a MEMS mechanical resonator embedding an FP cavity.Finally, as a complement to our study on resonators, we started exploring applications of optical interferometers based on similar micromachined silicon Bragg mirrors. For this purpose, an optical measurement microsystem was designed, fabricated and characterized ; it consists of an optical probe for surface profilometry in confined environments, based on an all-silicon Michelson interferometer

In the past decades, the miniaturization in optics led to new devices with structural sizes in the range of the light wavelength, where the photonic modes are con- fined and the number of states is limited. In the smallest microcavities, i.e. micrometer sized optical resonators, the propagation of only one mode is permitted that is simultaneously amplified internally. This particularly strong enhancement of the electric field is directly related to the quality factor of the cavity. By introducing an optical dipole into a high-Q microcavity, the spontaneous emission is amplified at the cavity mode frequency enabling stimulated emission in an inverted system. Although some of theses cavity e®ects can only be understood by quantum elec- trodynamic theory, most mechanisms are accessible by classical and semi-classical approaches. In this thesis, one-dimensional planar microcavities with quality factors up to 4500 have been fabricated by physical vapor deposition of dielectric thin films and organic active materials. A new cavity design based on anisotropic dielectric mirrors grown by oblique angle deposition microcavities with two energetically shifted orthogonally polarized modes is presented. The application of these anisotropic structures for terahertz di®erence signal generation is demonstrated in spectrally and time resolved transmission experiments, where optical beats with repetition rates in the terahertz range are observed. Optically pumped organic vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) have been realized by applying an organic solid state laser compound and high reflectance distributed Bragg reflectors. These lasers combine a very low laser threshold with small beam divergence and good stability. A transfer of the anisotropic design towards an organic VCSEL results in the generation of two perpendicularly polarized laser modes with a splitting adjustable by the fabrication conditions. The observation of an oscillation of two laser modes in a photomixing experiment proves a phase coupling mechanism. This demonstrates the potential of the anisotropic cavity design for a passive or active component in a terahertz radiation source or frequency generator. Furthermore, microcavities with two and three coupled resonators are investigated. By the application of time-resolved transmission experiments, spatial oscil- lations of the internal electric field - photonic Bloch oscillations - are successfully demonstrated. In combination with the anisotropic microcavities, this is a second concept for the modulation of transmitted light with terahertz frequencies. All experiments are accompanied by numerical or analytical models. Transmission experiments of continuously incident light and single laser pulses are compared with transfer matrix simulations and Fourier transform based approaches. For the modeling of emission experiments, a plane wave expansion method is successfully used. For the analysis of the organic VCSEL dynamics, we apply a set of rate equations that explains the gain switching process.