Boston Chapter of the IEEE Photonics Society

Abstract:  Recent progress in monolithically combining multiple materials with disparate optical, electronic, and thermomechanical properties in the same fiber drawn from a preform is paving the way to a new generation of multimaterial fibers endowed with complex and non-traditional functionalities. A wide range of devices have been developed in fiber form‐factor using this strategy, such as transversely emitting fiber lasers, fibers that detect light, heat, or sound impinging on their external surfaces, and fibers embedded with diodes capable of high speed optical communications. This seminar will highlight recent advances in this rapidly growing field and will introduce the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), a DoD-funded manufacturing institute with a mission to transform traditional fibers, yarns, and textiles into highly sophisticated, integrated, and networked devices and systems.

Biography:  Dr. Alexander (Sasha) Stolyarov is the Chief Executive Officer of the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America USA Manufacturing Institute (AFFOA). Prior to this role, Sasha was an Assistant Group Leader in the Advanced Technology Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL) where his work focused on developing next generation fiber devices and transitioning them into integrated systems for national security. In 2017, Sasha founded the Defense Fabric Discovery Center (DFDC), an end-to-end prototyping facility housed at MIT LL, focused on developing advanced fiber and fabric technology for national security and stood up in collaboration between MIT LL, Natick Soldier Systems Center, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and AFFOA. For these efforts, Sasha received the 2018 MIT LL Early Career Technical Achievement Award, a recognition of significant technical contributions by individuals under the age of 35. Sasha conducted his graduate and postdoctoral training at MIT, where he developed advanced fabrication capabilities for multimaterial fiber devices, including fiber-based chemical sensors, electro-optic modulators, multi-modal waveguides, and opto-fluidic systems. He has co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and holds four US patents in this emerging field. Sasha earned a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Harvard University in 2012 and a B.S. in Physics from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2005.

Location:  Online Seminar