Bandwidth demands in global telecommunication infrastructures continue to rise and new optical techniques are needed to deal with massive data flows. Generating high bandwidth signals (> 40 GHz) using conventional modulation techniques is hindered by material limitations and fabrication complexities. Similarly, controlling such high bandwidths in both the temporal and spectral domain becomes more problematic using conventional electronic processes. Advances in electro-optic organic materials, fibers/micro-fluidics integration, and nonlinear optics have significant potential for higher bandwidth modulation and temporal/spectral control. The work presented in this dissertation demonstrates the use of various nonlinear optical effects in new photonic device and system designs towards the generation and manipulation of highspeed optical pulses. First, an all fiber-based system utilizing an integrated carbon disulfide-filled liquidcore optical fiber (i-LCOF) and co-propagating pulses of comparable temporal lengths is presented. The slow light effect was observed in 1-meter of i-LCOF, where 18 ps pulses were delayed up to 34 ps through the use of stimulated Raman scattering. Delays greater than a pulse width indicate a potential application as an ultrafast controllable delay line for time division multiplexing in multi-Gb/s telecommunication systems. Similarly, an optically tunable frequency shift was observed using this system. Pulses experienced a full spectral bandwidth shift at low peak pump powers when utilizing the Raman-induced frequency shift and slow light effects. Numerical simulations of the pulse-propagation equations agree well with the observed shifts. Included in our simulations are the contributions of both the Raman cross-frequency shift and slow light effects to the overall frequency shift. These results make the system suitable for numerous applications including low power wavelength converters. Second, a silica/electro-optic (EO) polymer phase modulator with an embedded bowtie antenna is proposed for use as a microwave radiation receiver. The detection of high-frequency electromagnetic fields has been heavily studied for wireless data transfer. Recently there has been growing interest in the field of microwave photonics. We present the design and optimization of a waveguide with an EO polymer core and silica/sol-gel cladding. The effect of electrodes on the insertion losses and poling efficiency are also analyzed, and conditions for low-loss and high poling efficiency are established. Experimental results for a fabricated device with microwave-response between 10 - 14 GHz are presented. Finally, we present the design for a fast optical switch incorporating silicon as the passive waveguide structure and EO polymer as the active material. The design uses a simple directional coupler with coplanar electrodes and promises to have low cross-talk and high switching speed (on the order of nanoseconds). An initial design for a 1x2 switch is fabricated and tested, and future optimization processes are also presented.

For several decades, the field of magneto-optics (MO) has demonstrated applications that have impact on every day applications such as in optical data storage, magnetic field sensing, crucial for magnetoencephalography and magnetocardiography; and compact and efficient optical isolators, among others. In the past, many of these applications and the devices designed for them have heavily relied on inorganic materials. Organic materials with a high MO response represent an interesting alternative to the inorganic equivalent by not only being a more cost efficient solution, but also by allowing the user to modify a number of variables to control and optimize the MO performance depending on the application and level of performance desired. In this dissertation I discuss the MO properties of novel organic materials, starting with polythiophene, which has been of interest due to the strong relationship between its high MO performance and its lamellar structure and regioregularity. I will also be discussing another material system that provides several degrees of MO tunability: magnetite based nanocomposites. A unique and novel synthetic approach described in this dissertation yields both highly transparent and MO responsive polymer films. I will be describing a systematic approach that indicates a strong influence of the size of the nanoparticle as well as the nanoparticle concentration in the MO performance of the bulk polymer, while maintaining high optical quality with minimal scattering and absorption in the visible and near infrared. Finally, I will be discussing the implementation of both a magnetite nanocomposite and a cobalt ferrite based nanocomposite in a free space magnetic field system and demonstrate the proof-of-principle operation of a sensing system.

This thesis studies frequency-shifted interferometry (FSI), a useful and versatile technique for fiber-optic sensing. I first present FSI theory by describing practical FSI configurations and discussing the parameters that affect system performance. Then, I demonstrate the capabilities of FSI in fiber-optic sensor multiplexing and high sensitivity chemical analysis. We implemented a cryogenic liquid level sensing system in which an array of 3 fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based sensors was interrogated by FSI. Despite sensors' spectral overlap, FSI is able to separate sensor signals according to their spatial locations and to measure their spectra, from which whether a sensor is in liquid or air can be unambiguously determined. I showed that a broadband source paired with a fast tunable filter can be used in FSI systems as the light source. An array of 9 spectrally overlapping FBGs was successfully measured by such a system, indicating the potential of system cost reduction as well as measurement speed improvement. I invented the the FSI-CRD technique, a highly sensitive FSI-based fiber cavity ring-down (CRD) method capable of deducing minuscule loss change in a fiber cavity from the intensity decay rate of continuous-wave light circulating in the cavity. As a proof-of-principle experiment, I successfully measured the fiber bend loss introduced in the fiber cavity with FSI-CRD, which was found to be 0.172 dB/m at a bend radius of 12.5 mm. We then applied FSI-CRD to evanescent-field sensing. We incorporated fiber tapers as the sensor head in the system and measured the concentration of 1-octyne solutions. A minimum detectable 1-octyne concentration of 0.29% was achieved with measurement sensitivity of 0.0094 dB/% 1-octyne. The same system also accurately detected the concentration change of sodium chloride (NaCl) and glucose solutions. Refractive index sensitivity of 1 dB/RIU with a measurement error of 1*10^-4 dB was attined for NaCl solutions. Finally, I proposed a theoretical model to study the polarization effects in FSI systems. Preliminary results show that the model can already explain the experimental observations. It not only provides insight into how to improve system performance but also suggests potential new applications of the technique.

The design of nonlinear optical (NLO) molecules has become a focus of current research in telecommunications, information technologies and optical data storage. Donor-acceptor substituted dipolar molecules have been the most investigated NLO chromophores. Dipolar molecules, however, have several limitations such as low optical transparency, low thermal stability and their strong tendency to adopt anti-parallel packing in the solid state. Recently, a new class of materials based on octupolar symmetries, which lack permanent dipole moments, has been proposed for NLO applications. At a structural level, it can be shown that the basic template for 3D octupolar molecules comes to a cube with alternating charges at the corners such as donor and acceptor substituent. Despite all the various structures reported, it is worth noting that no molecules actually representing the "real" octupolar cube have been obtained so far. In this thesis, we showed that the real octupolar cube can be demonstrated by lanthanide III complexes based on ABAB type phthalocyanine featuring alternating electron donor and electron acceptor groups. These structures are characterized by UV-NIR, X-Ray and exhibit highest quadratic hyperpolarizability ever reported for an octupolar molecule. Moreover, this work was extended to nonoctupolar lanthanide homoleptic double-decker complexes based on AB3, A4, B4, T4 type phthalocyanines. It was observed that these molecules present a quite large quadratic hyperpolarizability too, but smaller than the one obtained for the Ln(ABAB)2 series, as expected.

Anisotropy in glass can lead to a transmitted double image due to birefringence. Stress-induced birefringence, the stress-optic effect, is undesirable for applications such as commercial imaging. The leading zero stress-optic glass exhibits dispersive effects near its absorbance edge and thus cannot be used in broadband applications. Finding zero stress-optic glasses with minimal dispersive effects over a broad band of the visible region requires a theory to predict which combinations of glass formers and modifiers could exhibit minimal dispersion. Two glass families known to have a zero stress-optic response using white light, tin phosphates and tin silicates, were studied as a function of composition and wavelength. Near the absorbance edge, dispersion varied considerably with composition for tin phosphate glasses, but remained constant for tin silicate glasses. The significant factor is the oxygen bonding influence near the band edge. This leads to composition rules for synthesis of broadband, zero stress-optic glasses.

This thesis studies frequency-shifted interferometry (FSI), a useful and versatile technique for fiber-optic sensing. I first present FSI theory by describing practical FSI configurations and discussing the parameters that affect system performance. Then, I demonstrate the capabilities of FSI in fiber-optic sensor multiplexing and high sensitivity chemical analysis. We implemented a cryogenic liquid level sensing system in which an array of 3 fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based sensors was interrogated by FSI. Despite sensors' spectral overlap, FSI is able to separate sensor signals according to their spatial locations and to measure their spectra, from which whether a sensor is in liquid or air can be unambiguously determined. I showed that a broadband source paired with a fast tunable filter can be used in FSI systems as the light source. An array of 9 spectrally overlapping FBGs was successfully measured by such a system, indicating the potential of system cost reduction as well as measurement speed improvement. I invented the the FSI-CRD technique, a highly sensitive FSI-based fiber cavity ring-down (CRD) method capable of deducing minuscule loss change in a fiber cavity from the intensity decay rate of continuous-wave light circulating in the cavity. As a proof-of-principle experiment, I successfully measured the fiber bend loss introduced in the fiber cavity with FSI-CRD, which was found to be 0.172 dB/m at a bend radius of 12.5 mm. We then applied FSI-CRD to evanescent-field sensing. We incorporated fiber tapers as the sensor head in the system and measured the concentration of 1-octyne solutions. A minimum detectable 1-octyne concentration of 0.29% was achieved with measurement sensitivity of 0.0094 dB/% 1-octyne. The same system also accurately detected the concentration change of sodium chloride (NaCl) and glucose solutions. Refractive index sensitivity of 1 dB/RIU with a measurement error of 1*10^-4 dB was attined for NaCl solutions. Finally, I proposed a theoretical model to study the polarization effects in FSI systems. Preliminary results show that the model can already explain the experimental observations. It not only provides insight into how to improve system performance but also suggests potential new applications of the technique.

Experimental and theoretical progress has been made toward the production and manipulation of novel atomic and molecular states. The design, construction and characterization of a driver for an acousto-optic modulator is presented which achieves a maximum diffraction efficiency of 54 % at 200 MHz, using a commercial modulator. A novel design is presented for a highly sensitive optical spectrum analyzer for displaying laser mode structure in real time. Utilizing programmable microcontrollers to read data from a CMOS image sensor illuminated by the diffraction pattern from a Fabry-Perot interferometer, this device can operate with beam powers as low as 3.3 micro-watts, at a fraction of the cost of equivalent products. Computational results are presented analyzing the behaviour of a model quantum system in the vicinity of an avoided crossing. The results are compared with calculations based on the Landau-Zener formula, with discussion of its limitations. Further computational work is focused on simulating expected conditions in the implementation of the STIRAP technique for coherent control of atoms and molecules in the beam experiment. The work presented provides tools to further the aim of producing large, mono-energetic populations of heavy Rydberg systems. / Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2007-10-03 17:17:56.841

Akustinių bangų ir šviesos – akustooptinė (AO) sąveika įgalina tirti akustinių bangų savybes ne tik kristalo paviršiuje, bet ir tūryje. Tai aktualu kuriant tūrinių bangų prietaisus įvairiems taikymams. Iki šiol yra atlikta keletas AO difrakcijos eksperimentų, kai sunertiniais keitikliais žadinamos tūrinės bangos, bet ne nuotėkio paviršinių akustinių bangų (PAB) spinduliuotė į tūrį. Kita vertus, AO sąveiką galima efektyviai panaudoti šviesos parametrų valdyme. Tūrinių bangų AO prietaisai – šviesos moduliatoriai, deflektoriai, derinami filtrai plačiai naudojami praktikoje. Šioje disertacijoje pateikiami anizotropinės šviesos difrakcijos nuotėkio paviršinių akustinių bangų spinduliuote į kristalo tūrį ZX-LiNbO3 ir YX-LiTaO3 eksperimentiniai rezultatai ir teorinis modelis. Tokio tipo sąveika įgalina suderinti sunertinių PAB keitiklių technologijos privalumus su didesniu šviesos sąveikos su tūrinėmis akustinėmis bangomis efektyvumu. Dėmesys mišraus valentingumo manganitams, turintiems perovskito kristalinę gardelę vis didėja dėl fazinio virsmo paramagnetikas – feromagnetikas Kiuri temperatūroje, milžiniškosios magnetovaržos efekto, didelės unikalių tarpusavyje susijusių savybių įvairovės ir potencialo įvairiuose taikymuose. Dėl stiprios Jahn-Teller tipo elektron-fononinės sąveikos akustiniai metodai yra perspektyvūs tiriant manganitus. Šioje disertacijoje pateikiami nuotėkio paviršinių akustinių bangų spinduliuotės į tūrį sklidimo dariniuose La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 plėvelė –... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Acoustic wave and light – acousto-optic (AO) interaction provides an efficient tool for probing the acoustic wave properties not only at a crystal surface but also at any point within its bulk. This is topical in the design of the bulk wave devices for various applications. Meanwhile, there have been a few investigations of AO diffraction by (interdigital transducer) IDT-generated bulk waves, but not of the diffraction due to the radiation from leaky surface acoustic waves (SAWs). On the other hand, AO interaction enables efficient control of light parameters. Bulk wave AO devices have found numerous applications as light modulators, deflectors, tunable filters. In this PhD thesis, the experimental investigation and theoretical model of anisotropic light diffraction by leaky SAW radiation into crystal bulk in ZX-LiNbO3 and YX-LiTaO3 are reported. This type of interaction allows one to combine benefits of the IDT technology with the enhanced interaction efficiency of bulk-wave-type interaction. Mixed-valence perovskite manganites were studied intensively in recent years due to the observed paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition at Curie temperature, colossal magnetoresistance effect, a variety of unique properties and potential at various applications. Due to the strong Jahn-Teller electron-phonon coupling the acoustic technique is effective tool for investigations of manganites. In this PhD thesis, the experimental investigation of the leaky SAW radiation propagating in... [to full text]

Acoustic wave and light – acousto-optic (AO) interaction provides an efficient tool for probing the acoustic wave properties not only at a crystal surface but also at any point within its bulk. This is topical in the design of the bulk wave devices for various applications. Meanwhile, there have been a few investigations of AO diffraction by (interdigital transducer) IDT-generated bulk waves, but not of the diffraction due to the radiation from leaky surface acoustic waves (SAWs). On the other hand, AO interaction enables efficient control of light parameters. Bulk wave AO devices have found numerous applications as light modulators, deflectors, tunable filters. In this PhD thesis, the experimental investigation and theoretical model of anisotropic light diffraction by leaky SAW radiation into crystal bulk in ZX-LiNbO3 and YX-LiTaO3 are reported. This type of interaction allows one to combine benefits of the IDT technology with the enhanced interaction efficiency of bulk-wave-type interaction. Mixed-valence perovskite manganites were studied intensively in recent years due to the observed paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition at Curie temperature, colossal magnetoresistance effect, a variety of unique properties and potential at various applications. Due to the strong Jahn-Teller electron-phonon coupling the acoustic technique is effective tool for investigations of manganites. In this PhD thesis, the experimental investigation of the leaky SAW radiation propagating... [to full text] / Akustinių bangų ir šviesos – akustooptinė (AO) sąveika įgalina tirti akustinių bangų savybes ne tik kristalo paviršiuje, bet ir tūryje. Tai aktualu kuriant tūrinių bangų prietaisus įvairiems taikymams. Iki šiol yra atlikta keletas AO difrakcijos eksperimentų, kai sunertiniais keitikliais žadinamos tūrinės bangos, bet ne nuotėkio paviršinių akustinių bangų (PAB) spinduliuotė į tūrį. Kita vertus, AO sąveiką galima efektyviai panaudoti šviesos parametrų valdyme. Tūrinių bangų AO prietaisai – šviesos moduliatoriai, deflektoriai, derinami filtrai plačiai naudojami praktikoje. Šioje disertacijoje pateikiami anizotropinės šviesos difrakcijos nuotėkio paviršinių akustinių bangų spinduliuote į kristalo tūrį ZX-LiNbO3 ir YX-LiTaO3 eksperimentiniai rezultatai ir teorinis modelis. Tokio tipo sąveika įgalina suderinti sunertinių PAB keitiklių technologijos privalumus su didesniu šviesos sąveikos su tūrinėmis akustinėmis bangomis efektyvumu. Dėmesys mišraus valentingumo manganitams, turintiems perovskito kristalinę gardelę vis didėja dėl fazinio virsmo paramagnetikas – feromagnetikas Kiuri temperatūroje, milžiniškosios magnetovaržos efekto, didelės unikalių tarpusavyje susijusių savybių įvairovės ir potencialo įvairiuose taikymuose. Dėl stiprios Jahn-Teller tipo elektron-fononinės sąveikos akustiniai metodai yra perspektyvūs tiriant manganitus. Šioje disertacijoje pateikiami nuotėkio paviršinių akustinių bangų spinduliuotės į tūrį sklidimo dariniuose La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 plėvelė –... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

A searched for narrow-band-noise (NBN) modulations of the infrared transmission in blue bronze has been performed. No modulations were observed, giving an upper limits for NBN changes in the absorption coefficient of )2000/(/3.0.andlt;.cmNBN. The implication of these results on proposed CDW properties and NBN mechanisms are discussed. An infrared microscope with a capability of doing both reflectance and transmission measurements has been integrated into the previous electro-transmission system with tunable diode lasers. Electro-optic experiments were done using the microscope for the studies of the CDW states of K0.3MoO3 (blue bronze) and orthorhombic TaS3. The electro-reflectance signal for blue bronze has been evidenced for the first time. The infrared reflectance of K0.3MoO3 varied with position when a voltage greater than the CDW depinning threshold is applied. The spatial dependence of .R/R was slightly different than for ./, in that the magnitude of .R/R decreased and, for low voltages and frequencies, the signal became inverted near the contacts. Perhaps the differences might be associated with changes in the CDW properties on the surface. For blue bronze, the electro-reflectance signal was measured to be smaller than electro-transmittance signal by one order of magnitude for light polarized transverse to the chain direction, while the electro-reflectance signal for parallel polarized light was found to be a few times smaller than for transverse polarized light. The fits of the electro-reflectance spectrum showed that the changes in background dielectric constant were ~ 0.05 % and/or oscillator strength and/or frequency shifts of the phonons were ~ 0.05 % and ~ 0.005 cm-1 in the applied electric field. We also found that parallel polarized phonons are affected by CDW strain, and these changes dominate the electro-reflectance spectrum. We have examined the electro-reflectance spectra associated with CDW current investigation for light polarized parallel to the conducting chains for signs of expected current-induced intragap states, and conclude that the density of any such states is at most a few times less than expected. We have observed a large (~1%) change in infrared reflectance of orthorhombic TaS3, when its CDW is depinned. The change is concentrated near one current contact. Assuming that the change in reflectance is proportional to the degree of CDW polarization, we have studied the dynamics of CDW repolarization through position dependent measurements of the variation of the electro-reflectance with the frequency of square wave voltages applied to the sample, and have found that the response could be characterized as a damped harmonic oscillator with a distribution of relaxation (i.e. damping) times. The average relaxation time, which increases away from the contacts, varies with applied voltage as with p ~ 3/2, but the distribution of times broadens as the voltage approaches the depinning threshold. Very low resonant frequencies (~ 1 kHz) indicate a surprisingly large amount of inertia, which is observable in the time dependence of the change in reflectance as a polarity dependent delay of ~ 100 s.