The conventional way of using a nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavity as an optical memory requires a negative pulse input to reset the state of the cavity. The possibility of using positive pulses to turn a system of nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavities on and off is studied and it was found that positive pulse switching is possible in a system of two coupled nonlinear cavities. First, Korpel and Lohmann's proposal of using polarization switching in a single nonlinear birefringent cavity was studied. After a detailed investigation of their proposal it was found that positive pulse switching in a single nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavity is not possible. One of the reasons is that the eigen-polarization states of the output of a nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavity cannot be switched independently. Although it is not possible to switch a single nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavity with positive pulses we were able to use the coupling of the eigen-polarization states to implement other kinds of optical switches which were demonstrated experimentally. The cross-talk effect in a metallic Fabry-Perot cavity was also studied. Next, a steady state model of a system of two coupled nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavities was developed and it was found that positive pulse switching is possible in such a system. The output can be turned on and off either by pulses sent into different cavities or by pulses of different magnitudes sent into one cavity. Finally, the dynamic behavior of the coupled cavities system was modeled by extending Goldstone and Garmire's model of a single cavity with one input to a system of two coupled cavities with two inputs. We verified by numerical calculations that positive pulse switching is also possible in the dynamic regime. / Ph. D.

The developing field of smart structures and skins provides an application to which fiber optic sensors bring unique capabilities and benefits. The primary cost in a network of fiber sensors is in the sources, receivers and associated hardware and can be prohibitive for a large number of sensors. Multiplexing of sensors based on spread spectrum techniques offers an efficient and cost effective solution to this limitation. The system hardware developed in this research work is capable of the real time monitoring of a four sensor network. Experimental results with embedded and attached Extrinsic Fabry Perot Interferometers (EFPI) are presented. The system can be used to multiplex any type of sensor which translates the measurand into intensity variations of the light. A measure of the system efficiency is obtained using crosstalk measurements. A suppression of 40 dB has been obtained between the desired sensor signal and the interference. The effect on system performance has been observed by varying system parameters such as code length and separation between codes. Highly sensitive embedded interferometric sensors have been used in a multimeasurand environment to measure temperature and strain. A solution to the inherent 'near-far' problem in an optical COMA system has been proposed and results for the same are presented. A novel WDM/CDM hybrid (Wavelength Division Multiplexing/Code Dhtision Multiplexing) scheme has been proposed to increase the light intensity at the detector thereby increasing the number of sensors in the system. Methods to optimize and upgrade the system are discussed. / Master of Science

The detection and active monitoring of hydrogen gas levels is essential in many areas of industry including manufacturing, storage, and transport of this gas. Previously, methods used to detect hydrogen gas have relied upon monolithic technologies to create resistive-based sensors which are impractical for many applications requiring electrical isolation or operation in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields. Materials can be sputter deposited along cylindrical optical fiber-based sensors to create novel fiber-optic chemical sensors. Herein, the mechanisms allowing the detection of hydrogen gas using a modified Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometric (EFPI) sensor are presented in this work. A new custom-designed, custom-built radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering system has been used to deposit thin films of palladium metal along with cylindrical substrates. The surface morphology of the deposited films are investigated using a variety of analytical tools, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (AES), and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). The system is used to deposit thin films of palladium along a cylindrical EFPI fiber-optic sensor to produce a new fiber-optic hydrogen gas sensor. Experimental results obtained in a controlled hydrogen atmosphere are used to demonstrate the high resolution and fast response time associated with these new hybrid sensors. / Master of Science

Conventional fiber optic interferometric sensors employing a monochromatic source prove to be inadequate for applications requiring absolute, real-time value of magnitude and direction of the applied perturbation. This limitation can be overcome by using a broadband light source to extract unambiguous information from the sensor in the wavelength domain. Several variations in the signal processing techniques for white light interferometry are discussed and compared in terms of resolution, bandwidth and cost. A detailed analysis is made of the principle of operation and basic features of the commercially available absolute sensing system. This compact system is self calibrating, has a 100 micro-strain Ole) strain and 2°C temperature resolution and is ideal for applications in environments where the parameter to be measured is static or quasi-static. High finesse Fabry-Perot cavities are employed to obtain almost an order of magnitude sensitivity improvement over conventional low finesse cavities. The principle of white light interferometry is extended to absolute axial stain and temperature sensing in two-mode, elliptical-core fibers. Other novel applications, such as to operation of photo induced refractive index gratings and fiber characterization are proposed. / Master of Science

The use of optical sensors to perform health monitoring in fault-tolerant multicomputers can allow the multicomputer to detect imminent failure in a particular section of the interconnection network due to damaging strain. This detection method allows the rerouting of critical data before data link failure occurs. This thesis investigates the implementation of the extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer into an optical hybrid communications/sensing network. A testbed of personal computers, acting as nodes of a multicomputer, are used to monitor the integrity of the network to a high degree of accuracy. When a node determines that an adjacent data link is no longer reliable due to physical damage, communications are rerouted and the node is shut down. Results of experiments with the testbed have shown that redundant nodes can be used to share computational loads, increasing the performance of the multicomputer, until network failure forces redundant nodes to assume full responsibility for computational tasks. Multicomputer performance suffers as a result of network damage, but full functionality is retained with no occurrence of errors or unknown conditions due to data link failure. / Master of Science

The FP interferometer was found to be feasible for detecting changes in machining forces. The fiber optic sensor was able to detect increases in strain corresponding to force increases detected by a dynamometer. The FP interferometer system must progress in several ways. A better data acquisition and data analysis system must be developed. A robust sensor must be made to withstand the harsh environment of machining. Also a method for eliminating the affects of thermal strain must be created. Finally, the placement of the FP sensor must also be determined. The FP has the potential to effectively monitor machining forces without affecting the rigidity of a turning operation setup. / Master of Science

An adaptation of an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) strain sensor is described, which permits the state of cure of an epoxy matrix to be monitored, when the sensor is embedded in a polymeric matrix composite. By using a glass rod with a retroreflecting end for the target fiber in the EFPI sensor, the intensity of the light reflected depends on the refractive index of the host matrix, if a low coherence source is used. As the epoxy cross-links during cure, the refractive index of the epoxy will increase to a value exceeding that of the target fiber. The resulting increased loss in the fiber can be detected at the sensor output and correlated to the state of cure of the epoxy. After cure, the sensor may be operated as a conventional extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric strain sensor if a coherent source is used. Using the modified extrinsic Fabry-Perot sensor, we monitor the cure of Devcon® 5-Minute® Epoxy, and show that it cures in approximately 60 minutes. / Master of Science

Bibliography: leaves 194-212. / ix, 214 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 31 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Mawson Institute for Antarctic Research, 1991

Bibliography: leaves 140-151 / 151, [2] leaves : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Mawson Institute, 1989

Tunneling phenomenon has been studied since the time of Sir Isaac Newton. In the case of neutron tunneling phenomenon, it is the quantum mechanics wave-particle duality which manifests itself. In this case, particularly, the neutron wave-packet under total reflection condition suffers the so-called frustrated total reflection as known in standard optics. More accurately, this tunneling phenomenon shows itself via sharp dips in the plateau of total reflection. The prerequisite to observe such quantum mechanics phenomenon lies within a thin film Fabry-Perot resonator configuration. This thin film Fabry-Perot resonator geometry consists of two reflecting mirrors separated by a transparent material from a neutron optics viewpoint. In view of the specific neutron scattering properties related to the spin of the neutron wave-packet. As a direct proof, isotopic nickel based thin films Fabry-Perot resonator have been fabricated by depositing thin film of nickel by ion beam sputtering. The vacuum chamber was pumped down to the pressure of 10-8 mbar and deposition was performed at pressure of 2x10-4 mbar. The deposition rate was kept at 1.5 nm / minute and thickness layers were monitored by a calibrated quartz microbalance. Unpolarized neutron reflectometry measurements were carried out at the ORPHEE reactor using the time-of-flight EROS reflectometer. The incidence neutron wavelength varied between 3 – 25 Å. The grazing angle and angular resolution were of the order of 0.8˚ and 0.05 respectively. The software program, a Matlab routine for the simulation of specular X-ray and neutron reflectivity data with matrix technique, was employed to simulate the phenomenon and thereafter the experimentally obtained data and calculated (theoretical) data were compared. From the analysis of the comparison, a conclusion was drawn about the agreement between experimental data and theoretical data. The tunneling phenomenon has been observed in nanostructured isotopic nickel based thin film Fabry-Perot resonator. It manifested itself by the existence of dips, tunneling resonances, in the total reflection plateau due to quasi-bound states in the isotopic nickel based thin film Fabry-Perot resonator. In total, there were 7 tunneling resonances. The full widths at half maximum of these dips were found to decrease with increasing momentum wave vector transfer (Q) and this correlated to the neutron lifetime in the nanostructured isotopic nickel based thin film Fabry-Perot resonator. / Physics / M. Sc. (Physics)