Boston Chapter of the IEEE Photonics Society

Wed
Apr 6, 2005
8:45 PM
 

MIT Lincoln Laboratory
 

Microstructured Optical Fiber Fabrication: An Integrated Parametric Approach

Ms. Rosalind Wynne, Boston University, Boston, MA

Abstract:  A process for synthesizing microstructured optical fibers or “holey fibers” has been developed.  We present a practical fabrication procedure combined with a parametric model that can precisely control and predict the lattice dynamics of a holey fiber during the fiber manufacturing process. This work provides a straight-forward technique to produce high quality novel microstructured optical fibers.  The results of this investigation can serve as a “road map” to future research in the area of micro- and nano- structured fiber technology development.  The precision parametric model we have developed allows for the identification of appropriate draw parameters and predicts the final lattice behavior (i.e. degree of hole-collapse or expansion).  The parameters from this model successfully identified the fiber-drawing domain and baseline parameters that control the glass dynamics of the lattice structure. A single-draw over-collapse technique was employed to draw a microstructured fiber housing four holes in a square lattice.  After the fibers samples were drawn the cross-sections were examined with an optical microscope.  The theoretical predictions of the modified fluid mechanical model were validated.  The fiber samples successfully maintained the lattice structure.  The fabrication steps of the single-draw over-collapse technique were refined to improve the quality and lattice complexity of the holey fiber samples.  The fabricated fiber samples were optically characterized to determine the fiber’s suitability for transmission or sensor applications. Measurements provided information on the nonlinear properties, leakage loss, macro-bending loss and the numerical aperture of the fibers.

Biography:  Rosalind Wynne is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Boston University.  Ms. Wynne received a B.S. in Physics from Norfolk State University in 1999 and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Boston University in 2001.  She is a member of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  She has received a number of honors and awards for her research contributions including the 2004 Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships Dissertation Award, the 2004 SPIE Educational Scholarship in Optical Science and Engineering and the ONR/ HBECU Future Engineering Faculty Fellowship in 2001.  Ms. Wynne will receive her doctorate in May 2005.  Her thesis title is Microstructured Optical Fiber Fabrication: an Integrated Parametric Approach.