Orientador: Cristiano Monteiro de Barros Cordeiro / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-02T14:50:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Osorio_JonasHenrique_D.pdf: 57449332 bytes, checksum: 92f06bf0e96b31630478243a818a7fd6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Resumo: Nesta tese, fibras ópticas especiais são estudadas para fins de sensoriamento. Primei-ramente, propomos a estrutura denominada fibra capilar com núcleo embutido (embedded-core capillary fibers) para realização de sensoriamento de pressão. Estudos numéricos e analíticos foram realizados e mostraram que altas sensibilidades a variações de pressão poderiam ser al-cançadas com esta estrutura simplificada, que consiste de um capilar dotado de um núcleo, dopado com germânio, em sua parede. Experimentos permitiram medir uma sensibilidade de (1.04 ± 0.01) nm/bar, que é um valor alto quando comparado a outros sensores de pressão ba-seados em fibras microestruturadas. Ademais, estudamos fibras do tipo surface-core, que são fibras cujos núcleos são colocados na superfície externa da fibra. Nesta abordagem, redes de Bragg foram utilizadas para obter sensores de índice de refração ¿ fazendo-se uso da interação entre o campo evanescente do modo guiado no núcleo e o ambiente externo à fibra ¿ e de cur-vatura ¿ ao se explorar o fato de que, nestas fibras, o núcleo se encontra fora do centro geomé-trico da mesma. As sensibilidades a variações de índice de refração e curvatura medidas, 40 nm/RIU em torno de 1.41 e 202 pm/m-1 comparam-se bem a outros sensores baseados em redes de Bragg. Outrossim, fibras capilares poliméricas foram investigadas como sensores de temperatura e pressão. Para a descrição do sensor de temperatura, usou-se um modelo analítico para simular o espectro de transmissão dos capilares e a sua dependência com as variações de temperatura. No que tange à aplicação de sensoriamento de pressão, variações nas espessuras dos capilares devido à ação da pressão foram calculadas e relacionadas à sensibilidade da me-dida de monitoramento. Nestas duas aplicações, realizações experimentais também são repor-tadas. Finalmente, oportunidades adicionais de sensoriamento ao se utilizar fibras ópticas es-peciais são apresentadas, a saber, um sensor de pressão para dois ambientes baseados em fibras de cristal fotônico, um sensor de três parâmetros baseado em redes de Bragg, fibras afinadas e interferência multimodal, um sensor de nível de líquido baseado em redes de Bragg e interfe-rência multimodal e um sensor de temperatura baseado em fibras embedded-core preenchidas com índio. Os resultados aqui reportados demonstram o potencial das fibras ópticas em forne-cerem plataformas de sensoriamento para alcançar medidas de diferentes tipos de parâmetros com alta sensibilidade e resolução adequada / Abstract: In this thesis, specialty optical fibers for sensing applications are investigating. Firstly, we propose the embedded-core capillary fiber structure for acting as a pressure sensor. Analyt-ical and numerical studies were performed and showed that high pressure sensitivity could be achieved with this simplified fiber structure, which consists of a capillary structure with a germanium-doped core placed within the capillary wall. Experiments allowed measuring a sensitivity of (1.04 ± 0.01) nm/bar, which is high when compared to other microstructured optical fiber-based pressure sensors. Moreover, we studied the so-called surface-core optical fibers, which are fibers whose cores are placed at the external boundary of the fiber. In this approach, Bragg gratings were used to obtain refractive index ¿ making use of the interaction between the guided mode evanescent field and the external medium ¿ and directional curva-ture sensors ¿ by exploring the off-center core position. The measured refractive index and the curvature sensitivities, respectively 40 nm/RIU around 1.41 and 202 pm/m-1, compares well to other fiber Bragg grating-based sensors. Additionally, antiresonant polymer capillary fibers were investigated as temperature and pressure sensors. For the temperature sensing descrip-tion, one used an analytical model to simulate the transmission spectra of such fibers and the dependence on temperature variations. Regarding the pressure sensing application, pressure-induced capillary wall thickness variations were analytically accounted and related to the sys-tem pressure sensitivity. In both these applications, experimental data were presented. Finally, additional opportunities using specialty optical fibers were presented, namely, a photonic-crystal fiber-based dual-environment pressure sensor, a three parameters sensor using Bragg gratings, tapered fibers and multimode interference, a liquid-level sensor based on Bragg grat-ings and multimode interference, and a temperature sensor based in an embedded-core fiber filled with indium. The results reported herein demonstrates the potential of optical fibers for providing sensing platforms to attain measurements of different sort of parameters with highly sensitivity and improved resolutions / Doutorado / Física / Doutor em Ciências / 152993/2013-4 / CNPQ

Random hole optical fibers (RHOF) offer advantages over other types of microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). They are inexpensive and easy-to-make when compared to the high cost of ordered hole MOFs. They also have unique characteristics since they contain open and closed holes. The open holes contain ambient air under normal conditions and the closed holes contain residual gases from the fabrication process at certain pressure. The objective of this research work was to investigate the radiation resistance of Random Hole Optical Fibers (RHOF) for possible use as both sensing element and data transmission medium in nuclear reactor instrumentation and control applications. This work is motivated by the demand for efficient, cost effective, and safe operation of nuclear power plants, which accounts for more than 14% of the world's electricity production. This work has studied the effect of gamma irradiation on RHOF fibers by comparing their performance to that of standard solid telecommunication fibers and commercially available specialty solid fiber designed to be radiations hardened fiber. The fibers were evaluated at different absorbed dose levels: 12 mGy(Si), 350 mGy(Si), and 7200 Gy(Si) by measuring their radiation induced absorption (RIA) on-line. In the low dose test, the maximum RIA measured in untreated RHOF was approximately 8 dB while the RIA in the untreated MMF fibers reached a maximum at about 28 dB. In the high dose test, the maximum RIA measured in untreated RHOF was 36 dB while RIA in the methanol washed RHOF was only 9 dB. RHOF also demonstrated superior radiation damage recovery time over all of the other fibers tested. Based on the experimental evaluations, it was deduced that RHOFs used in this work are resistant to gamma radiation. and recover from radiation damage at a faster rate compared to other fibers tested. The radiation induced absorption (RIA) at the 1550 nm window in the RHOF fibers could be attributed to the OH absorption band tail. However, the existence of other mechanisms responsible for RIA is also postulated. Some of these mechanisms include bulk and surface defects which are related to the fabrication process and the influence of the gases confined within the RHOF microstructure. Gamma radiation resistance of RHOFs can be attributed to the lack of dopants and also possibly the inherent OH and nitrogen content. The behavior of thermally annealed RHOF and their fast recovery is in favor of this hypothesis. / Master of Science

Les travaux réalisés dans ce manuscrit portent sur la fabrication de fibres optiques microstructurées (FOMs) à cœur suspendu en verre de tellurite pour la génération de supercontinuum au-delà de 2µm. Pour atteindre notre but nous avons tout d'abord réalisées les études des propriétés thermiques et optiques des verres TeO2-ZnO-R2O et TeO2-WO3-R2O (où R= Li, Na et K). La composition du verre 80TeO2-10ZnO-10Na2O (% molaire) a été sélectionnée pour la fabrication des FOMs destinées aux caractérisations du développement des effets non linéaires. La synthèse sous atmosphère sèche et oxydante nous a permis de réduire la concentration des groupements hydroxyles d’un facteur 30 par rapport à la fabrication du verre sous air. L’utilisation d'agents déshydratants (ZnF2 et TeCl4) permet d'abaisser encore la concentration des groupements OH jusqu’à quelques ppm. La composition du verre 80TeO2-5ZnO-5ZnF2-10Na2O donne une fibre transparente jusqu’à 4 µm laissant apparaître l’influence de l’absorption multiphonon. Utilisant les précurseurs commerciaux les plus purs nous avons pu réaliser une fibre de tellurite avec de très faibles pertes à 0,1 dB/m.Nous avons fabriqué des FOMs à cœurs suspendus avec des diamètres de cœurs variant de 2,7 µm à 3,5 µmet permettant de gérer la dispersion chromatique et de ramener la longueur d'onde du zéro dispersion entre 1500 nm et 1660 nm. Pour optimiser la génération du supercontinuum nous avons utilisé des sources laser pulsées pico- et femtosecondes pour pomper les fibres en régime de dispersion anormale. En parallèle aux mesures expérimentales, nous avons effectué des modélisations numériques basées sur la résolution de l'équation de Schrödinger non-linéaire généralisée. Les résultats expérimentaux, en bon accord avec les simulations, nous ont permis d'obtenir un élargissement spectral s’étalant de 850 nm à 2850 nm avec un niveau de puissance de sortie de 112 mW, dont l'extension à plus grandes longueurs d'ondes dans l'infrarouge est encore pour l'instant fortement limitée par l’absorption des groupements hydroxyles. Cependant la déshydratation du matériau, même si elle doit encore être améliorée a permis de montrer que lors de pompage à 2000-2200 nm le supercontinuum peut atteindre 4000-4500 nm, gamme de longueurs d’onde à partir de laquelle l’absorption multiphonon commence à être perceptible / The work reported in this thesis deals with the fabrication of suspended core tellurite microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) for supercontinuum generation beyond 2 µm. In order to reach our aim, we first studied thermal and optical properties of TeO2-ZnO-R2O and TeO2-WO3-R2O (where R = Li, Na and K) glasses. The glass 80TeO2-10ZnO-10Na2O (molar %) has been chosen in order to make MOFs for characterization of the generated non linear optical effects. Synthesis performed under dry and oxidative atmosphere allowed us to reduce the hydroxyl groups concentration by a factor of 30 compared to fabrication in air atmosphere. Use of dehydrating agents (ZnF2 and TeCl4) allowed to reduce again the OH groups concentration down to a few ppm. The glass composition 80TeO2-5ZnO-5ZnF2-10Na2O increases the fiber transparency up to 4 µm letting the influence of multiphonon absorption appear. Using the purest commercial raw powders, we have fabricated one tellurite fiber exhibiting very low losses (0,1 dB/m). We have fabricated suspended core MOFs with a core diameter varying from 2,7 µm up to 3,5 µm allowing to deal with the chromatic dispersion and to shift the zero dispersion wavelength down to the 1500-1660 nm range. In order to optimize the supercontinuum generation, we have used pico- and femtosecondes pulsed laser sources to pump the fibers in anomalous dispersion regime. In parallel to the experimental measurements, we have performed numerical simulations based on the resolution of the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The experimental results, in good agreement with the simulations, allowed us to point out a spectral broadening expending from 850 nm up to 2850 nm with a total output power of 112 mW, with an extinction near the longest infrared wavelengths which is again strongly limited by the hydroxyl groups absorption. However, the dehydrated material, even though it needs to be improved further, allowed to show that by pumping at 2000-2200 nm, the supercontinuum can reach 4000-4500 nm, the wavelength range from which the multiphonon absorption starts to be perceptible

Ces travaux de thèse portent sur la synthèse et purification de matériaux vitreux utilisés pour le développement de fibres optiques à profils opto-géométriques variés, adaptées à la génération de supercontinuum (SC) entre 1 et 5 μm.Concernant la purification, plusieurs pistes ont été suivies, le meilleur résultat étant obtenu pour la purification du système vitreux TeO2-ZnO-Na2O au moyen du fluorure de zinc. Les mesures d'atténuation sur fibre mono-indice révèlent l'élimination presque complète des absorptions liées aux groupements OH entre 3 et 4 μm (taux d'impuretés OH dans la matrice inférieur à 1 ppm massique). Ces verres purifiés sont utilisés pour la fabrication de fibres optiques microstructurées (FOMs). Un élargissement spectral couvrant la fenêtre 0.6 μm - 3.3 μm est obtenu dans une fibre effilée à coeur suspendu. Aussi, une source compacte basée sur la génération de SC dans une FOM en tellurite est développée et appliquée à la détection de gaz (du méthane) entre 2 et 3 μm. Cependant un phénomène de vieillissement, lié à une interaction du coeur de la fibre avec la vapeur d'eau atmosphérique via la microstructure, et entraînant une augmentation des pertes optiques entre 3 et 4 μm, est mis en évidence dans ces fibres à coeur suspendu. Pour pallier ce problème, des fibres tout-solide à saut d’indice sont développées. La méthode de fabrication des préformes en verre, combinant les techniques de built-in casting et de rod-in-tube, est alors adaptée aux techniques de purification. Une fibre à saut d'indice à petit coeur en verres TNaGZ et TZNF purifiés a notamment été étirée et utilisée pour la génération d’élargissements spectraux dans différents régimes de dispersion. / This PhD thesis work focuses on the synthesis and purification of vitreous materials used for the development of waveguides with varied profiles, dedicated to supercontinuum (SC) generation between 1 and 5 μm.Concerning the purification of tellurite glasses, several leads were followed, but best results are obtained for the purification of the TeO2-ZnO-Na2O glassy system by the means of zinc fluoride. Attenuation measurements performed on several meter-long single-index fiber samples reveal the nearly complete elimination of water-related absorptions between 3 and 4 μm (OH ions concentration lower than 1 ppm mass.). Such water-purified glasses were firstly dedicated to microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) fabrication for SC generation. Spectral broadening between 0.6 and 3.3 μm is obtained in a suspended-core taper. Moreover, a compact source based on supercontinuum generation in tellurite MOFs is developed for a gas detection application in the 2-3 μm domain. However an aging process, due to water contamination and leading to the apparition of additional optical losses between 3 and 4 μm, has been identified in those suspended-core fibers. In order to avoid such transmission degradation, all-solid step-index fibers are developed. The preforms fabrication method, which combines the built-in casting and the rod-in-tube, is adapted to the purification techniques. An all-solid small-core waveguide made from purified TNaGZ and TZNF glasses is fabricated and moreover used for spectral broadening experiments in different dispersion regimes.

Orientador: Hugo Enrique Hernández Figueroa / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T14:17:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RamosGonzales_RoddyElky_D.pdf: 101751842 bytes, checksum: 8dc15b7e91881cfef8e1c24fa619f3ca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Propor uma técnica eficiente para controlar o Comprimento de Onda da Dispersão Zero (ZDW - Zero Dispersion Wavelength) de uma Fibra Óptica Microestruturada (MOF - Microstructured Optical Fiber). Esta técnica baseia-se na variação do índice de refração linear e na variação da espessura de um filme fino que cobre as superfícies interiores dos buracos da MOF. Foi utilizado um código potente e preciso baseado na formulação do Método dos Elementos Finitos (FEM - Finite Element Method) totalmente vetorial em conjunto com Camadas Perfeitamente Casadas (PMLs - Perfectly Matched Layers). E demonstrado um deslocamento Maximo do ZDW de 570 nm. Este filme fino pode ser incluído durante ou apos a fabricação da MOF, isso significa que a Dispersão Zero (ZD - Zero Dispersion) da fibra pode ser adaptada conforme a necessidade / Abstract: An efficient technique to control the zero-dispersion wavelength (ZDW) of a microstructured optical fiber (MOF) is proposed and numerically demonstrated in this work. This technique is based on the variation of the linear refractive index and the thickness of a thin film covering the microstructured optical fiber holes' inner surfaces. A powerful and accurate code based on a full-vector finite-element method formulation in conjunction with perfectly matched layers was used. A maximum of 570-nm zero-dispersion wavelength displacement is demonstrated. This thin film can be included after the microstructured optical fiber has been fabricated, and that means the zero dispersion of such fiber can be tailored as needed / Doutorado / Telecomunicações e Telemática / Doutor em Engenharia Elétrica

Orientador: Hugo Enrique Hernández Figueroa / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T00:08:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Medeiros_IuryZottele_M.pdf: 3756653 bytes, checksum: 16ee5515887e880053bfa81297f49352 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Atualmente as fibras ópticas microestruturadas (FOMs) estão sendo cada vez mais exploradas por possuírem geometricamente um maior grau de liberdade em seu projeto, além da possibilidade do uso de materiais não usados em fibras convencionais, proporcionando características ópticas antes inalcançáveis. Sendo assim, através do uso do programa para obtenção de modos de propagação pelo método dos elementos finitos totalmente vetorial disponível no grupo do Prof. Dr. Hugo E. H. Figueroa, foram apresentadas técnicas de simulação em FOMs multimodais, as quais foram implementadas em FORTRAN e adicionadas ao programa principal. Neste trabalho também foi estudado os esforços mecânicos gerados pelo o uso de diferentes materiais na constituição da FOM em seu processo de fabricação. Tais esforços são conhecidos como tensão residual térmica e proporcionam variações anisotrópicas dos índices de refração dos meios que compõem as FOMs. Primeiramente o cálculo das tensões residuais foi feito analiticamente para uma geometria generalizada de FOM, e então tratando-as como uma pertubação no modo propagante analisado anteriormente pelo programa de análise modal. Por ultimo foi implementado um código para o cálculo estimativo da birrefringência de fase e de grupo levando em conta os esforços mecânicos induzidos no processo de fabricação, portanto o objetivo final foi alcançado / Abstract: Nowadays micro-structured optical fibers (MOFs) are being increasingly exploited since they have a greater geometrical flexibility in its project, in addition to the possibility of using un-conventional materials, providing optical features unreachable before. Therefore, a full-vectorial finite element modal solver developed by Prof. Dr. Hugo E. H. Figueroa's group was used, since it has already proved its efficiency. New techniques for multimodal MOFs simulation were presented, they were implemented using FORTRAN and then added to the main program to make the search for the propagation constants easier. Mechanical stress was also studied. It is generated by the use of different materials whithin the MOF constitution, in its manufacturing process. These stresses are known as thermal residual stresses and they provide variations of the anisotropic refractive indexes of the MOFs media. First, the calculation of the residual stresses was done analytically for a general geometry of MOF, and then they were treated as perturbations in the propagating mode, discussed previously by the full-vectorial finite element modal solver. Finally a code was implemented to estimate the phase and group birefringence, considering the mechanical stresses induced in the manufacturing process, therefore the ultimate goal was achieved / Mestrado / Telecomunicações e Telemática / Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

[pt] Esta tese trata do desenvolvimento de sensores para a monitoração do fluxo de campo magnético utilizando fibras ópticas. A principal motivação reside no uso destes sensores no control da condição de hidrogeradores. Duas tecnologias de sensoriamento com fibras ópticas são exploradas. A primeira baseia-se no uso de redes de Bragg e a segunda no emprego de interferômetros modais em fibras ópticas microestruturadas que apresentam alta birefringência. Em ambos os casos as fibras são recobertas por uma camada de material compósito magnetoestrictivo, que responde ao campo magnético deformando-se. Esta deformação é transferida para a rede de Bragg ou para a fibra microestruturada, produzindo uma resposta dependente do campo magnético. Os sensores desenvolvidos são leves e compactos. O sensor baseado em redes de Bragg, de formato cilíndrico com 1,5 mm de diâmetro e 7 mm de comprimento, passou por testes estáticos em campos magnéticos de até 750 mT tendo apresentado uma resolução de 0,3 mT. Testes dinâmicos foram realizados em um rotor de bancada desbalanceado e os resultados obtidos comparados com os fornecidos por um sensor magnético de efeito Hall mostrando excelente concordância. O sensor a fibra óptica interferométrico foi caracterizado estaticamente, tendo apresentado uma sensibilidade ao campo magnético duas vezes superior à do sensor baseado em redes de Bragg. / [en] This work explores the use of optical fiber sensors for the measurement of magnetic fields. In focus are applications in the condition monitoring of hydrogenerators, in particular for the measurement of the air gap, which consists in the space between rotor and stator of the synchronous machine. Two different fiber optic sensing principles were employed to develop magnetic field sensors. The first was based on fiber Bragg gratings and the second on an in-fiber modal interferometer, where the two orthogonally polarized modes of a high birefringent microstructured fiber generate fringes over the optical spectrum of a broad band source. In both cases, the fibers are coated by a thick layer of a magnetostrictive composite that deforms due to changes in its magnetization state. Strains in the coating are transferred to the fiber and measured by the sensor. The developed sensors are light and compact. The Bragg grating magnetic field sensor is cylindrical in shape with diameter of 1.5 mm and 7 mm long. The sensor was tested at magnetic fields of up to 750 mT under static conditions. The resolution achieved with a commercial interrogator was estimated at 0.4 mT. Dynamic tests were carried out in a laboratory rotor that presented a magnetic unbalance of approximately 7 percent in one of its four poles. Results were compared with a Hall Effect sensor showing excellent agreement. The interferometric sensor was characterized and results of static tests demonstrated that its sensibility to changes in the magnetic field is twice that of the sensor based on Bragg gratings.

Microstructured optical fibres (MOFs), also commonly called photonic crystal fibres or holey fibres, describe a type of optical fibre in which continuous channels of (typically) air run their entire length. These `holes' serve to both confine electromagnetic waves within the core of the fibre and to tailor its transmission properties. In order to understand and quantify both of these functions, a new computational algorithm was developed and implemented. It solves for the eigenvalues of Maxwell's wave equations in the two-dimensional waveguide cross-section, with radiating boundary conditions imposed outside the microstructure. This yields the leaky modes supported by the fibre. The boundary conditions are achieved exactly using a novel refinement scheme called the Adjustable Boundary Condition (ABC) method. Two implementations are programmed and their computational efficiencies are compared. Both use an azimuthal Fourier decomposition, but radially, a finite difference scheme is shown to be more efficient than a basis function expansion. The properties of the ABC method are then predicted theoretically using an original approach. It shows that the method is highly efficient, robust, automated and generally applicable to any implementation or to other radiating problems. A theoretical framework for the properties of modes in MOFs is also presented. It includes the use of the Bloch-Floquet theorem to provide a simpler and more efficient way to exploit microstructure symmetry. A new, but brief study of the modal birefringence properties in straight and spun fibres is also included. The theoretical and numerical tools are then applied to the study of polymer MOFs. Three types of fibres are numerically studied, fabricated and characterised. Each is of contemporary interest. Firstly, fabrication of the first MOFs with uniformly oriented elliptical holes is presented. A high degree of hole ellipticity is achieved using a simple technique relying on hole deformation during fibre draw. Both form and stress-optic birefringence are characterized over a broad scaled-wavelength range, which shows excellent agreement with numerical modelling. Secondly, an analysis of leaky modes in real air core MOFs, fabricated specifically for photonic band gap guidance, is then used to identify alternative guiding mechanisms. The supported leaky modes exhibit properties closely matching a simple hollow waveguide, weakly influenced by the surrounding microstructure. The analysis gives a quantitative determination of the wavelength dependent confinement loss of these modes and illustrates a mechanism not photonic band gap in origin by which colouration can be observed in such fibres. Finally, highly multimode MOFs (also called `air-clad' fibres) that have much wider light acceptance angles than conventional fibres are studied. An original and accurate method is presented for determining the numerical aperture of such fibres using leaky modes. The dependence on length, wavelength and various microstructure dimensions are evaluated for the first time for a class of fibres. These results show excellent agreement with published measurements on similar fibres and verify that bridge thicknesses much smaller than the wavelength are required for exceptionally high numerical apertures. The influence of multiple layers of holes on the numerical aperture and capture efficiency are then presented. It shows that a substantial increase in both these parameters can be achieved for some bridge thicknesses. Simple heuristic expressions for these quantities are given, which are based on the physical insight provided by the full numerical models. The work is then supported by the first fabrication attempts of large-core polymer MOFs with thin supporting bridges. These fibres exhibit relatively high numerical apertures and show good agreement with theoretical expectations over a very wide scaled-wavelength range.

Microstructured optical fibres (MOFs), also commonly called photonic crystal fibres or holey fibres, describe a type of optical fibre in which continuous channels of (typically) air run their entire length. These `holes' serve to both confine electromagnetic waves within the core of the fibre and to tailor its transmission properties. In order to understand and quantify both of these functions, a new computational algorithm was developed and implemented. It solves for the eigenvalues of Maxwell's wave equations in the two-dimensional waveguide cross-section, with radiating boundary conditions imposed outside the microstructure. This yields the leaky modes supported by the fibre. The boundary conditions are achieved exactly using a novel refinement scheme called the Adjustable Boundary Condition (ABC) method. Two implementations are programmed and their computational efficiencies are compared. Both use an azimuthal Fourier decomposition, but radially, a finite difference scheme is shown to be more efficient than a basis function expansion. The properties of the ABC method are then predicted theoretically using an original approach. It shows that the method is highly efficient, robust, automated and generally applicable to any implementation or to other radiating problems. A theoretical framework for the properties of modes in MOFs is also presented. It includes the use of the Bloch-Floquet theorem to provide a simpler and more efficient way to exploit microstructure symmetry. A new, but brief study of the modal birefringence properties in straight and spun fibres is also included. The theoretical and numerical tools are then applied to the study of polymer MOFs. Three types of fibres are numerically studied, fabricated and characterised. Each is of contemporary interest. Firstly, fabrication of the first MOFs with uniformly oriented elliptical holes is presented. A high degree of hole ellipticity is achieved using a simple technique relying on hole deformation during fibre draw. Both form and stress-optic birefringence are characterized over a broad scaled-wavelength range, which shows excellent agreement with numerical modelling. Secondly, an analysis of leaky modes in real air core MOFs, fabricated specifically for photonic band gap guidance, is then used to identify alternative guiding mechanisms. The supported leaky modes exhibit properties closely matching a simple hollow waveguide, weakly influenced by the surrounding microstructure. The analysis gives a quantitative determination of the wavelength dependent confinement loss of these modes and illustrates a mechanism not photonic band gap in origin by which colouration can be observed in such fibres. Finally, highly multimode MOFs (also called `air-clad' fibres) that have much wider light acceptance angles than conventional fibres are studied. An original and accurate method is presented for determining the numerical aperture of such fibres using leaky modes. The dependence on length, wavelength and various microstructure dimensions are evaluated for the first time for a class of fibres. These results show excellent agreement with published measurements on similar fibres and verify that bridge thicknesses much smaller than the wavelength are required for exceptionally high numerical apertures. The influence of multiple layers of holes on the numerical aperture and capture efficiency are then presented. It shows that a substantial increase in both these parameters can be achieved for some bridge thicknesses. Simple heuristic expressions for these quantities are given, which are based on the physical insight provided by the full numerical models. The work is then supported by the first fabrication attempts of large-core polymer MOFs with thin supporting bridges. These fibres exhibit relatively high numerical apertures and show good agreement with theoretical expectations over a very wide scaled-wavelength range.

Le mélange à quatre ondes est un effet non linéaire sensible à la phase qui suscite de nombreux intérêts dans le domaine de la génération de peignes de fréquences et du traitement tout optique du signal par exemple. Un peigne de fréquences peut en effet s'obtenir par effet de mélange à quatre ondes 1en cascade. Dans ce cas, un nombre N d'ondes interagissent entre elles via l'effet Kerr et la modélisation d'un tel processus doit tenir compte de tous les couplages possibles entre les ondes. Au cours de mes travaux de thèse, je me suis intéressé, dans un premier temps, à la modélisation du mélange à quatre ondes dit multiple pour lequel un nombre quelconque N d'ondes interagissent entre elles. J'ai proposé une formulation générale permettant d'identifier simplement tous les termes de mélange à quatre ondes issus de toutes les combinaisons possibles de couplage entre les ondes et leur désaccord de phase associé. J'ai validé cette approche en proposant une étude théorique et expérimentale d'un processus de mélange à quatre ondes multiple dans une fibre optique non linéaire. Dans une deuxième partie, j'ai proposé, grâce au modèle élaboré précédemment, une étude théorique du phénomène de conversion de fréquence sensible à la phase, permettant la décomposition des composantes en quadrature d'un signal optique. Dans la littérature, cette expérience fut démontrée initialement avec quatre ondes pompes et dans plusieurs types de composants non linéaires. J'ai pu démontrer, au cours de mes travaux, que trois pompes étaient suffisantes pour réaliser l'expérience et j'ai déterminé des relations analytiques simples permettant de choisir les paramètres expérimentaux (notamment l'amplitude et la phase des pompes) rendant possible la décomposition des composantes en quadrature d'un signal. J'ai validé cette étude par la démonstration expérimentale d'un convertisseur de fréquence sensible à la phase avec uniquement trois pompes et j'ai étudié théoriquement les effets de la dispersion chromatique sur les performances du convertisseur de fréquence. Enfin, dans une dernière partie, j'ai caractérisé des fibres optiques microstructurées en verre de chalcogénure fabriquées dans le cadre d'une collaboration avec Perfos, l'Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes et SelenOptics. Dans ce cadre, j'ai mis en place un banc de mesure de la dispersion chromatique et du coefficient non linéaire des fibres optiques basé sur le mélange à quatre ondes. / Four-wave mixing is a phase-sensitive nonlinear effect that arouses interest, particularly in the fields of frequency comb generation and all-optical signal processing. As an example, frequency combs can be produced thanks to a cascaded four-wave mixing process. In this case, N waves can interact with each other through the optical Kerr effect, and one has to take into account all the possible interactions to be able to adequately model the process. During my PhD thesis, I was interested in modeling the so-called multiple four-wave mixing process, in which any number N of waves can interact with each other. I proposed a general formulation that allows to easily identify all the four-wave mixing terms originating from all the possible combinations of wave coupling and their associated phase-mismatch terms. I validated this approach through the theoretical and experimental study of a multiple four-wave mixing process in a nonlinear optical fiber. Thanks to the developed model, I then proposed a theoretical study of the phase-sensitive frequency conversion process, which permits to demultiplex the quadrature components of an optical signal. In the literature, this process was first experimentally demonstrated in several nonlinear devices using four pump waves. I demonstrated that only three pump waves were required to successfully perform the experiment, and I determined the simple analytical relations from which the adequate experimental parameters (namely, the amplitudes and phases of the pump waves) could be deduced. I finally validated this study by experimentally demonstrating a phase-sensitive frequency conversion process with only three pump waves, and I theoretically studied the influence of chromatic dispersion on the performance of this frequency converter. Finally, I characterized some chalcogenide microstructured optical fibers that were fabricated in the framework of a collaboration with Perfos, the Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, and SelenOptics. I set up a test bench based on the four-wave mixing process in order to measure the chromatic dispersion and nonlinear coefficient of some optical fibers.