Multi-Mode Interferometry: Application to TiO2–SiO2 Sol-Gel Waveguide-Based Sensing in the Aerospace Domain

The optimization of a 2D optical sensor based on TiO2–SiO2 sol-gel waveguides for damage detection in the aerospace domain was performed in the framework of the ADD-ON European project. The sensor is based on the transportation of visible light along numerous waveguides, and damage is detected and localized through the monitoring of the output light from the waveguide grid. In this work, we have developed an architecture, inspired by a multi-mode interferometer (MMI), allowing us to efficiently multiply the number of waveguides that can be probed by a single optical source. For this, the beam propagation method (BPM) was used to model a rectangular MMI coupler (40 × 5624 µm2) operating in the visible region (600 nm), ensuring the propagation of light into three waveguides. The conceived device was then manufactured by UV photolithography (direct laser writing technique). The simulations and experimental results show that light transport into this architecture allows for the successful simultaneous probing of three waveguides. By complexifying the device structure, successful MMI couplers were easily manufactured, allowing us to probe 9, 15, or 45 TiO2–SiO2 waveguides with a unique light source. Finally, a further investigation regarding 24 consecutive thermal cycles from −40 °C to 60 °C, representative of the temperature changes during aircraft cruising, was performed. This study reveals that TiO2–SiO2 sol-gel waveguides are not mechanically damaged by temperature changes, while the light guidance remains unaffected, confirming that this sensor is very promising for aerospace applications. Since a single source can monitor several guides, the production of more compact, low-cost, and less intrusive sensors can be achieved by fulfilling structural health monitoring requirements.

The ALFALFA Almost Dark Galaxy AGC 229101: A 2 Billion Solar Mass H i Cloud with a Very Low Surface Brightness Optical Counterpart

We present results from deep H i and optical imaging of AGC 229101, an unusual H i source detected at v helio =7116 km s−1 in the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) blind H i survey. Initially classified as a candidate “dark” source because it lacks a clear optical counterpart in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) or Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2) imaging, AGC 229101 has 109.31±0.05 M ⊙ of H i, but an H i line width of only 43 ± 9 km s−1. Low-resolution Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) imaging and higher-resolution Very Large Array (VLA) B-array imaging show that the source is significantly elongated, stretching over a projected length of ∼80 kpc. The H i imaging resolves the source into two parts of roughly equal mass. WIYN partially populated One Degree Imager (pODI) optical imaging reveals a faint, blue optical counterpart coincident with the northern portion of the H i. The peak surface brightness of the optical source is only μ g ∼ 26.6 mag arcsec−2, well below the typical cutoff that defines the isophotal edge of a galaxy, and its estimated stellar mass is only 107.32±0.33 M ⊙, yielding an overall neutral gas-to-stellar mass ratio of M/M * = 98 − 52 + 111 . We demonstrate the extreme nature of this object by comparing its properties with those of other H i-rich sources in ALFALFA and the literature. We also explore potential scenarios that might explain the existence of AGC 229101, including a tidal encounter with neighboring objects and a merger of two dark H i clouds.

A technique for determining three-dimensional storm cloud top locations using stereo optical lightning pulses observed from orbit

We have developed a technique to estimate the three-dimensional (3D) location of lightning optical pulses based on the stereo view of common lightning pulses from two different orbital instruments. The technique only requires the satellite position and the look vector to the lightning optical source. An example dataset of the Geostationary Lightning Mappers (GLMs) on GOES-16 and GOES-17 from 10 June 2019 is used to illustrate the technique. For this dataset, we find that the values for the stereo determination of cloud top altitudes are on average lower by 740 m than the ones calculated from the lightning ellipsoid that is currently applied during geolocation. When we compare the locations to the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Cloud Height Algorithm (ACHA), we find that our technique also produces slightly lower altitude values by 240 m. There is greater spread in our technique than either the lightning ellipsoid or the ABI cloud-top height that is likely due to the incorrect pairing of Groups between the two GLMs and the 8 to 14 km resolution in the Group locations. Based on GLM location errors derived from comparisons to ground truth sources, the uncertainty in the radial location determined by the stereo location technique is 5.2 km, while the altitude uncertainty is 4.0 km. The technique can be used to 3D map lightning or other optical sources such as bolides and other upper atmospheric optical phenomena from any two orbital sensors with overlapping fields of view.

Dual Fluorescence Emission by Irradiation of Single Optical Source for Fluorescein Sodium and 5-ALA Applications

Most brain surgeries aim to completely resection a tumor. However, the arrangement of blood vessels around brain tumors is often complex. Moreover, the tumors and blood vessels have similar colors, making it difficult to identify the boundaries between them with the naked eye. Fluorescent staining is a method used to distinguish the borders between brain tumors and blood vessels. The fluorescent contrast agents commonly used to observe tumors are 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and fluorescein sodium (FS), which have different surgical sensitivities, depending on the type of tumor. In this article, a dual band band-pass filter (BPF) with dual-wavelength emission for 5-ALA and FS is designed, and the dual-band BPF capable of inducing simultaneous fluorescence emission of FS and 5-ALA was investigated experimentally to improve accuracy, speed, and energy efficiency in clinical settings. The possibility of dual fluorescence emission with a single irradiation is proposed. The proposed fluorescent dual-band filter has the advantage of saving energy, reducing auxiliary manpower and unit costs, and reducing operating room space requirements by producing two fluorescence diagnostic effects using a single equipment.

Nonlinear Effect and MAI Impact on SAC-OCDMA System Based on 2D Multi-Diagonal Code and Laser Array

A new architecture for Spectral Amplitude Coding Optical Code Division Multiple Access (SAC-OCDMA) system based on two Dimensional Multi Diagonal (2D-MD) codes named 2D-MD SAC-OCDMA and utilizing a laser optical source is proposed for Long-Reach Passive Optical Network (LR-PON). In this work, a computer simulator tool is used, for the first time, as a SAC-OCDMA simulation set-up utilizing the unique combination of a coherent laser array and 2D-MD codes. In addition, the system performance is addressed numerically by taking into account Multiple Access Interference (MAI), optical coherent source noise, first, second and third order fiber dispersion, nonlinear effects and photo-detector noise. Simulation results indicate that for a single user (i.e., without considering MAI), the system can operate at a maximum bit rate of 55 Gb/s over 250 km of Single Mode Fiber (SMF), with a Bit Error Rate (BER) below 10−9 (Q-limit = 15.5 dB), when only first order fiber dispersion is considered. However, including the effects of second and third order fiber dispersion as frequency domain parameters, results in a reduction of the maximum bit rate to 40 Gb/s, while maintaining a Q-factor above the Q-limit under the same transmission distance. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the proposed architecture extends the SMF transmission reach up to 600 km and 480 km, when considering linear and nonlinear effects, respectively. Finally, we show that our proposed 2D-MD SAC-OCDMA system outperforms existing solutions presented in the literature for LR-PON configuration, in terms of both aggregate bit rate and transmission reach.

A Miniaturised, Fully Integrated NDIR CO2 Sensor On-Chip

In this paper, we present a fully integrated Non-dispersive Infrared (NDIR) CO2 sensor implemented on a silicon chip. The sensor is based on an integrating cylinder with access waveguides. A mid-IR LED is used as the optical source, and two mid-IR photodiodes are used as detectors. The fully integrated sensor is formed by wafer bonding of two silicon substrates. The fabricated sensor was evaluated by performing a CO2 concentration measurement, showing a limit of detection of ∼750 ppm. The cross-sensitivity of the sensor to water vapor was studied both experimentally and numerically. No notable water interference was observed in the experimental characterizations. Numerical simulations showed that the transmission change induced by water vapor absorption is much smaller than the detection limit of the sensor. A qualitative analysis on the long term stability of the sensor revealed that the long term stability of the sensor is subject to the temperature fluctuations in the laboratory. The use of relatively cheap LED and photodiodes bare chips, together with the wafer-level fabrication process of the sensor provides the potential for a low cost, highly miniaturized NDIR CO2 sensor.

AlGaInP optical source integrated with fiber links and silicon avalanche photo detectors in fiber optic systems

This study has clarified aluminium gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP) optical source integrated with fiber links and silicon avalanche photodetectors in fiber optic systems. The output spectral power, rise time, signal frequency and resonance frequency for AlGaInP laser diode. The laser diode rise time, output spectral power and resonance/signal frequencies versus injection current and ambient temperatures are sketched. The silica doped germanium fiber link pulse broadening and the signal fiber bandwidth are investigated against temperature variations. The signal per noise ratio is related to Q value and bit error rate (BER) at the receiving point (Si avalanche photodetector (APD)) are sketched with temperature.

Phase-encoded RF signal generation based on an integrated 49GHz micro-comb soliton crystal optical source

We demonstrate photonic RF phase encoding based on an integrated micro-comb source. By assembling single-cycle Gaussian pulse replicas using a transversal filtering structure, phase encoded waveforms can be generated by programming the weights of the wavelength channels. This approach eliminates the need for RF signal generators for RF carrier generation or arbitrary waveform generators for phase encoded signal generation. A large number of wavelengths—up to 60—were provided by the microcomb source, yielding a high pulse compression ratio of 30. Reconfigurable phase encoding rates ranging from 2 to 6 Gb/s were achieved by adjusting the length of each phase code. This work demonstrates the significant potentials of this microcomb-based approach to achieve high-speed RF photonic phase encoding with low cost and footprint.