Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-86). Also available via the Internet.

The linear and nonlinear optical properties of a spin-coated polydiacetylene, [5,7-dodecadiyn-1,12-diol-bis(n-butoxy-carbonyl-methyl-urethane)], or poly(4BCMU), were measured to predict its performance in all-optical devices at 1.319 μm. Material requirements for all-optical devices were identified and figures-of-merit noted. A two-photon absorption figure of merit was verified by numerical simulation of a waveguide device. The refractive index and waveguide loss in spin-coated poly(4BCMU) films were measured. A photo-induced bleaching was observed, and its effect on linear and nonlinear optical properties was quantified. Fabrication of integrated-optical structures using this photobleaching process was demonstrated. The nonlinear refractive index and absorption were measured at 1.319 μm with 60 picosecond laser pulses, using poly(4BCMU) strip-loaded channel waveguides. A novel pulse-modulated interferometer was developed for measuring the intensity-dependent refractive index. The fast electronic contribution was found to be n₂ = (4.8 ± 2.7) x 10⁻⁸ cm²/MW, an a slower thermal contribution of n₂(T) = -(7.9 ± 4.5) x 10⁻¹¹ cm²/MW was measured. The thermal index change was shown to limit the duty cycle of operation for a poly(4BCMU) device. The two-photon absorption coefficient was also measured, yielding γ < 0.25 cm/GW. These values were used to estimate performance of a poly(4BCMU) all-optical device using standard figures-of-merit. For this specific waveguide, the figures-of-merit indicated poor performance. If waveguide losses were neglected, (by assuming improved fabrication for example), and assuming the nonlinearity does not saturate at intensities below the damage threshold, the figures-of-merit improve to useful levels. The limit on duty cycle imposed by thermal effects appears to restrict operation to GHz frequencies of slower.

No description available.

Thesis (doctoral)--Helsinki University of Technology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Losses induced in a single-mode fiber due to periodic spatial deformations along the fiber axis have been investigated spectrally. Deformation losses in several single-mode fibers were found to be strongly wavelength dependent. This wavelength dependence was characterized by narrow attenuation bands in the transmission spectra of periodically deformed fibers. The attenuation bands were shown to shift as the spatial deformation period was varied. The amplitude and location of the attenuation bands were recorded as the number and amplitude of spatial deformations on the fiber were varied. The backreflected spectra of deformed fibers were also studied. Applications of wavelength dependent losses in periodically perturbed single-mode fibers are proposed. In particular, a self-referenced, intensity-based, fiber sensor is suggested. A distributed sensor is proposed using several sets of deformations with different periods induced on the same fiber to measure the same physical measurand at multiple locations along the length of the fiber. Based on this scheme, a multiplexed fiber sensor is envisioned, capable of measuring different physical variables on the same fiber. Optical notch filters can be made by using the notch-like characteristic of each attenuation band. Methods to induce permanent, periodic, axial deformations on an optical fiber are discussed. Spectral investigation of two-mode fibers with photo-induced refractive index changes is suggested. The proposed investigations would eliminate the need for external deformers to perturb the fiber and yield an intrinsic fiber sensor for sensing different physical variables. / Master of Science

Les nanocristaux colloïdaux sont des fluorophores semi-conducteurs de taille nanométrique. Fluorescents à température ambiante et synthétisés par voie chimique, ces nanoémetteurs représentent d'excellents candidats pour divers domaines d'application tels que l'éclairage, le marquage biologique ou le photovoltaïque.Mon travail expérimental, s'inscrit dans le développement de ces nanoémetteurs via deux approches différentes : leur couplage avec des nanostructures plasmoniques à 4K et la mise en place de régime d'émission collective.Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié le couplage de nancoristaux individuels avec des films d'or plan dans le but de réduire les pertes par effet Joule. Tout d'abord, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'influence de la température sur ce couplage. A partir d'expériences de photoluminescence et de simulations numériques effectuées par Gérard Colas des Francs du LCIB, nous avons pu mesurer et simuler une forte diminuation de l'accélération du temps caractéristique d'émission des nanocristaux lorsque la température passe de 300K à 4K. Cette diminution est directement liée à une importante diminution des pertes ohmiques des couches d'or. L'efficacité quantique des nanocristaux est ainsi augementée d'un facteur 3. Ensuite, nous avons étudié l'influence de la cristallinité de l'or sur ce couplage. A nouveau une forte réduction de l'accélération de l'émission des nanocristaux a été mesurée sur or cristallin en comparaison avec des couches d'or amorphe. Ces mesures laissent de nouveau présager une réduction des pertes par effet Joule ainsi qu'une augmentation d'au moins un facteur deux de l'efficacité quantique des nanocristaux.Dans un second temps, nous avons effectué les premières caractérisations d'agrégats de nanocristaux enrobés dans une coquille de silice. A température ambiante, nous avons mis en évidence la présence d'interaction de type FRET entre les nanocristaux émettant dans le bleu et les nanocristaux émettant dans le rouge. Cette interaction permet ainsi une accélération de l'émission globale des agrégats. A 4K, nous avons observé une modification de la dynamique d'émission des agrégats avec l'apparition de deux échelles de temps différentes. Pour les temps courts, la dynamique d'émission est accélérée et est régie par la recombinaison de l'exciton. Pour les temps longs, la dynamique d'émission est régie par une loi de puissance traduisant ainsi l'apparition de temps caractéristiques d'émission extrêmement longs. / Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals are fluorescent semiconductors with a nanometric size. Bright at room temperature and chemically synthesized, nanocrystals are interesting candidates for differents applications as lighting, biological labeling or photovoltaic.My experimental work, is part of the development of these emitters by two differents approaches : coupling with plasmonic structures at 4,K and formation of collective emission.First, we studied the coupling between single nanocrystals and a flat gold film in order to decrease the optical losses. To begin we studied the influence of the temperature. With some photoluminescence measurements and some simulations, we show significant decrease of the enhancement of the photoluminescence decay rate at 4,K. This reduction is linked to the decrease of optical losses. Then, we studied the influence of crystallinity of gold. We show again an important reduction of enhancement of the photoluminescence decay rate with crystalline gold compared to amorphous layer.Second, we investigated the optical properties of compact nanocrystal clusters encapsulated in a silica shell. At room temperature, we observed an enhancement of the photoluminescence decay rate through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). At 4K, we measured an important variation of the emission dynamic with emergence of two times scales. At short time scale, emission is accelerated and governed by the exciton recombination. At long time scale, the decay is governed by power law showing the emergence of long-lived states.

L'optomécanique est la science des interactions entre la lumière et les mouvements mécaniques. Ce rapport de thèse décrit des expériences réalisées avec des microdisques fabriqué dans différents résonateurs semi-conducteurs III-V: l'Arséniure de Gallium (GaAs), l'Arséniure d'Aluminium Gallium (AlGaAs) et l'Arséniure d'Indium Phosphide (InGaP). Ces matériaux sont compatibles avec les fonctionnalités de l’optoélectronique et procurent un couplage optomécanique géant. Pour améliorer les performances des résonateurs en GaAs, nous avons développé des méthodes de traitement de surface permettant de réduire la dissipation optique par un facteur dix et ainsi d'atteindre un facteur de qualité de six millions. En plus de ces études sur le GaAs, nous avons réalisés une étude comparative des interactions optomecaniques dans des microdisques d'InGaP et d'AlGaAs, et nous avons mis en évidences leurs résonances optomécaniques. Finalement, nous avons réalisé des mesures de force avec des résonateurs en GaAs, démontrant un nouveau principe de détection basé sur notre étude de leur la trajectoire dans l'espace de phase et leur bruit de phase / Optomechanics studies the interaction between light and mechanical motion. This PhD thesis reports on optomechanical experiments carried with miniature disk resonators fabricated out of distinct III-V semiconductors: Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), Aluminium Gallium Arsenide (AlGaAs) and Indium Gallium Phosphide (InGaP). These materials are compliant with optoelectronics functionalities and provide giant optomechanical coupling. In order to boost performances of GaAs resonators, we implemented surface control techniques and obtained a ten-fold reduction of optical dissipation, attaining a Q of six million. On top of GaAs, we performed a comparative investigation of optomechanical interactions in InGaP and AlGaAs disk resonators, and demonstrated their operation as optomechanical oscillators. Finally, we carried out optomechanical force sensing experiments with GaAs resonators, analyzing a new sensing principle in light of the phase space trajectory and phase noise of the corresponding oscillators

Photonic crystals (PhCs) are periodic dielectric structures that exhibit a photonic bandgap, i.e., a range of wavelength for which light propagation is forbidden. The special band structure related dispersion properties offer a realm of novel functionalities and interesting physical phenomena. PhCs have been manufactured using semiconductors and other material technologies. However, InP-based materials are the main choice for active devices at optical communication wavelengths. This thesis focuses on two-dimensional PhCs in the InP/GaInAsP/InP material system and addresses their fabrication technology and their physical properties covering both material issues and light propagation aspects. Ar/Cl2 chemically assisted ion beam etching was used to etch the photonic crystals. The etching characteristics including feature size dependent etching phenomena were experimentally determined and the underlying etching mechanisms are explained. For the etched PhC holes, aspect ratios around 20 were achieved, with a maximum etch depth of 5 microns for a hole diameter of 300 nm. Optical losses in photonic crystal devices were addressed both in terms of vertical confinement and hole shape and depth. The work also demonstrated that dry etching has a major impact on the properties of the photonic crystal material. The surface Fermi level at the etched hole sidewalls was found to be pinned at 0.12 eV below the conduction band minimum. This is shown to have important consequences on carrier transport. It is also found that, for an InGaAsP quantum well, the surface recombination velocity increases (non-linearly) by more than one order of magnitude as the etch duration is increased, providing evidence for accumulation of sidewall damage. A model based on sputtering theory is developed to qualitatively explain the development of damage. The physics of dispersive phenomena in PhC structures is investigated experimentally and theoretically. Negative refraction was experimentally demonstrated at optical wavelengths, and applied for light focusing. Fourier optics was used to experimentally explore the issue of coupling to Bloch modes inside the PhC slab and to experimentally determine the curvature of the band structure. Finally, dispersive phenomena were used in coupled-cavity waveguides to achieve a slow light regime with a group index of more than 180 and a group velocity dispersion up to 10^7 times that of a conventional fiber. / QC 20100712