Thesis (doctoral)--University of Oulu, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-171). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-79). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-63). Also available via the Internet.

M.Ing. / Over the past few years, fibre Bragg gratings have emerged as very important components in the photonics environment. Their discovery has greatly revolutionised the design of many complex devices, introducing simplicity and cost effectiveness. Extensive research has been invested into identifying possible areas of application for fibre Bragg gratings. This has resulted in fibre Bragg gratings finding a comfortable niche in the fields of sensors and optical communication systems. This study focuses on the possible application of fibre Bragg gratings in wireless local area networks. Wireless local area networks are rapidly becoming a market of great potential for the investor. To sustain the impressive image of this market, research initiatives should strive to secure cost-effective solutions for the implementation of wireless local area networks. With reduced costs on wireless local area network products, the demand for these products is expected to escalate. Research conducted at the COBRA Institute, has produced a novel concept of optically distributing data signals across a network, and later transmitting them at radio frequencies between antenna sites. This concept, earmarked for wireless local area networks, uses a fast tuneable laser source, graded index polymer optical fibre and a periodic optical filter to generate the radio frequency microwave signals. The periodic filter in this network system serves to up-convert the frequency of the signal to radio-frequency levels. The filter is an important component of the network and it is situated at the antenna site. For wireless local area networks that require broad coverage, the number of periodic optical filters deployed for the system can be high. This can have a negative impact on the cost of the network. This research proposes a low-cost Fabry-Perot filter designed from fibre Bragg gratings, to replace the optical periodic filter discussed in the network mentioned above. The work presented in this study consolidates the design theories of Fabry-Perot filters and fibre Bragg gratings. The grating-based Fabry-Perot filter is modelled using coupled-mode theory, simulated using the transfer matrix method and fabricated via the strain controlled phase mask technique. The figures of merit that describe the spectral performance of the Fabry-Perot filter (i.e. free spectral range, minimum resolvable bandwidth, finesse and contrast factor) are compared to calculations associated with classical designs. The final part of this study presents experimental measurements of the generated radio frequency microwave signal. The purpose of these measurements is firstly to demonstrate the feasibility of the entire concept of generating radio frequency microwave signals using optical frequency multiplication. The second goal for the measurements is to benchmark the performance of the new grating-based Fabry-Perot filter against expected results approximated through calculations. Both goals were achieved with encouraging observations.

Narrowband spectral filters find important applications in optical fiber communication systems, particularly in wavelength demultiplexers and single-frequency semiconductor lasers. Conventional Fabry-Perot resonators provide a narrow spectral width but lack the capability of mode discrimination. A new coupled-waveguide Fabry-Perot resonator made of two parallel waveguides with reflecting mirrors at the ends is proposed for application as narrowband tuned spectral filter in single-mode diode lasers and wavelength demultiplexers. The interference of counter propagating waves from reflection by end mirrors and the coupling of waves between the two parallel guides contribute to the operation of this resonator structure. Thus, the device exhibits the attributes of both Fabry-Perot resonator and directional coupler. The coupled-mode theory of parallel waveguides is employed to analyze the proposed structure. Spectral characteristics are derived from the governing coupled-mode equations and related boundary conditions. Two geometries consisting of identical waveguides, as well as nonidentical waveguides, are examined. The spectral characteristics of the proposed resonator demonstrate that significant improvement in mode discrimination capability and longitudinal mode spacing over the conventional Fabry-Perot resonator is achieved. Numerical results for several example cases are presented and the influence of various parameters on spectral properties are investigated. / Master of Science

A surface acoustic wave sensor based on an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer is described. A single-mode fiber, used as the input/output fiber, and a multimode fiber, used mainly as a reflector, form an air-gap that acts as a low-finesse Fabry-Perot cavity. The Fresnel reference reflection from the glass/air interface at the front of the air-gap interferes with the sensing reflection from the air/glass interface at the far end of the air-gap in the input/output fiber. Strains in the silica tube housing the two fibers change the air-gap length, thereby altering the phase difference between the reference and sensing reflections and modulating the output intensity. A theoretical analysis of the interaction between the strain induced by the acoustic fields and the fiber sensor is presented. Because signal drifting in interferometric sensors is common, a dual optical wavelength stabilization technique is also incorporated into the sensor to minimize the effect. Signal to noise ratios (SNR’s) on the order of 39 dB are obtained with a strain sensitivity of 4°/ μstrain cm⁻¹. / Master of Science

A pair of high-stability optical frequency references has been developed. The devices are based on room temperature Fabry-Perot cavities with mirrors spaced apart by a hollow single-crystal sapphire element. The sapphire element delivers mechanical sti ness that provides improved immunity to vibrational perturbations compared with the more common spacers made from ultra-low expansion glass. The system is housed in an vacuum chamber designed to provide isolation from environmental perturbations through the use of an active thermal control system, suspension legs and a unique beam alignment system. The dimensional stability of the Fabry-Perot was translated into a highly stable laser frequency by frequency locking a 1064nm Nd:YAG laser to the centre of a mode of the cavity. This frequency lock was implemented by the Pound-Drever-Hall scheme. By careful design, this control system was able to hold the frequency of the laser to within parts in 1016 of the frequency of the fundamental cavity mode. The minimum fractional frequency stability of the laser frequency was measured at 2.1x10[-]14 for integration times of 0.8 s, limited by the residual instability of the Fabry-Perot cavity. The experimental methods used to measure the performance of the system have also been considered in depth. For example, the most common way of characterizing the frequency stability of a frequency standard is the Allan variance. It is demonstrated that, without care, data taken with modern frequency counters can produce erroneous and distorted results when their output is supplied to this algorithm. The method to avoid or account for these errors is also presented. The Fabry-Perot cavity performance is limited on long timescales by residual temperature uctuations, which can be ameliorated in future by enhancing the design of the thermal control system. At short timescales, the system is limited by vibration-induced uctuations together with a white noise source, that is yet to be identi ed, but may relate to fundamental thermodynamic temperature uctuations of the sapphire spacer. This system was used to measure the stability of an optical signal synthesised from a cryogenic microwave sapphire oscillator using an wide-band optical frequency comb. This was the rst demonstration of a multiplication of an ultra-stable signal from the microwave frequency domain into the optical frequency domain, without loss of delity at the level of 2x10[-]14.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-68). Also available via the Internet.

Intracavity Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (ICLAS) at IR wavelengths offers an opportunity for spectral sensing of low vapor pressure compounds. We report here an ICLAS system design based on a quantum cascade laser (QCL) at THz (69.9 m) and IR wavelengths (9.38 and 8.1 m) with an open external cavity. The sensitivity of such a system is potentially very high due to extraordinarily long effective optical paths that can be achieved in an active cavity. Sensitivity estimation by numerical solution of the laser rate equations for the THz QCL ICLAS system is determined. Experimental development of the external cavity QCL is demonstrated for the two IR wavelengths, as supported by appearance of fine mode structure in the laser spectrum. The 8.1 m wavelength exhibits a dramatic change in the output spectrum caused by the weak intracavity absorption of acetone. Numerical solution of the laser rate equations yields a sensitivity estimation of acetone partial pressure of 165 mTorr corresponding to ~ 200 ppm. The system is also found sensitive to the humidity in the laboratory air with an absorption coefficient of just 3 x 10-7 cm -1 indicating a sensitivity of 111 ppm. Reported also is the design of a compact integrated data acquisition and control system. Potential applications include military and commercial sensing for threat compounds such as explosives, chemical gases, biological aerosols, drugs, banned or invasive organisms, bio-medical breath analysis, and terrestrial or planetary atmospheric science.

Distributed temperature and strain sensing is demanded for a wide range of applications including real-time monitoring of industrial processes, health monitoring of civil infrastructures, etc. Optical fiber distributed sensors have attracted tremendous research interests in the past decade to meet the requirements of such applications. This research presents a multiplexed sensor array for distributed temperature and strain sensing that can multiplex a large number of UV-induced sensors along a single fiber. The objective of this research is to develop a quasi-distributed sensing technology that will greatly increase the multiplexing capacity of a sensor network and can measure temperature and strain with a high accuracy and high resolution. UV-induced intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (IFPI) optical fiber sensors, which have low reflectance and low power loss, are good candidates for multiplexed sensors networks. Partial reflectors are constructed by irradiating photosensitive fiber with a UV laser beam. A pair of reflectors will form a Fabry-Perot interferometer that can be used for temperature and strain sensing. A sensor fabrication system based on a pulsed excimer laser and a shadow mask is developed. A spectrum-based measurement system is presented to measure the interference fringes of IFPI sensors. A swept coherent light source is used as the light source. The spectral responses of the IFPI sensors at different wavelengths are measured. A frequency division multiplexing (FDM) scheme is proposed. Multiple sensors with different optical path differences (OPD) have different sub-carrier frequencies in the measured spectrum of the IFPI sensors. The multiplexing capacity of the sensor system and the crosstalk between sensors are analyzed. Frequency estimation based digital signal processing algorithms are developed to determine the absolute OPDs of the IFPI sensors. Digital filters are used to select individual frequency components and filter out the noise. The frequency and phase of the filtered signal are estimated by means of peak finding and phase linear regression methods. The performance of the signal processing algorithms is analyzed. Experimental results for temperature and strain measurement are demonstrated. The discrimination of the temperature and strain cross sensitivity is investigated. Experimental results show that UV-induced IFPI sensors in a FDM scheme have good measurement accuracy for temperature and strain sensing and potentially have a large multiplexing capacity. / Ph. D.