Temperature Dependence of the Thermo-Optic Coefficient of GeO2-Doped Silica Glass Fiber.

In this paper we derived an expression that allows the determination of the thermo-optic coefficient of weakly-guiding germanium-doped silica fibers, based on the thermal behavior of optical fiber devices, such as, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The calculations rely on the full knowledge of the fiber parameters and on the temperature sensitivity of FBGs. In order to validate the results, we estimated the thermo-optic coefficient of bulk GeO2 glass at 293 K and 1.55 µm to be 18.3 × 10-6 K-1. The determination of this value required to calculate a correction factor which is based on the knowledge of the thermal expansion coefficient of the fiber core, the Pockels' coefficients (p11 = 0.125, p12 = 0.258 and p44 = -0.0662) and the Poisson ratio (ν = 0.161) of the SMF-28 fiber. To achieve that goal, we estimated the temperature dependence of the thermal expansion coefficient of GeO2 and we discussed the dispersion and temperature dependence of Pockels' coefficients. We have presented expressions for the dependence of the longitudinal and transverse acoustic velocities on the GeO2 concentration used to calculate the Poisson ratio. We have also discussed the dispersion of the photoelastic constant. An estimate for the temperature dependence of the thermo-optic coefficient of bulk GeO2 glass is presented for the 200-300 K temperature range.

Temperature Dependence of the Thermo-Optic Coefficient of SiO2 Glass.

This paper presents a thorough analysis on the temperature dependence of the thermo-optic coefficient, dn/dT, of four bulk annealed pure-silica glass samples (type I-natural quartz: Infrasil 301; type II-quartz crystal powder: Heraeus Homosil; type III-synthetic vitreous silica: Corning 7980 and Suprasil 3001) from room temperature down to 0 K. The three/four term temperature dependent Sellmeier equations and respective coefficients were considered, which results from fitting to the raw data obtained by Leviton et al. The thermo-optic coefficient was extrapolated down to zero Kelvin. We have obtained dn/dT values ranging from 8.16 × 10-6 up to 8.53 × 10-6 for the four samples at 293 K and for a wavelength of 1.55 µm. For the Corning 7980 SiO2 glass, the thermo-optic coefficient decreases monotonically, from 8.74 × 10-6 down to 8.16 × 10-6, from the visible range up to the third telecommunication window, being almost constant above 1.3 µm. The Ghosh's model was revisited, and it was concluded that the thermal expansion coefficient only accounts for about 2% of the thermo-optic coefficient, and we have obtained an expression for the temperature behavior of the silica excitonic bandgap. Wemple's model was also analyzed where we have also considered the material dispersion in order to determine the coefficients and respective temperature dependences. The limitations of this model were also discussed.

UV LED Curable Perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-Urethane Methacrylate Transparent Coatings for Photonic Applications: Synthesis and Characterization.

The contribution aims to bring forth a novel synthesis route in developing transparent UV LED-curable coatings accounting for various exposure options. A selection of perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-urethane methacrylate and acrylate resins, free-radical photo-initiator Omnirad 2100, and two distinct silane-based crosslinking agents were blended under a weight ratio of 75:20:5 (without crosslinker) and 70:15:5:10, respectively. The coatings were cured under a UV LED 4 × 3 matrix light emitting source, in a chamber under a controlled atmosphere, by means of an in-house developed conveyor belt type platform, at different conveyor belt speeds (5, 50, 150, 250, and 500 mm/s). The morphologies of fabricated coatings were characterized by FTIR revealing high conversion rates (e.g., from 98 to 100%) for increased exposure time as a result of the 5 or 50 mm/s values, on all combinations. Dynamic-mechanical and optical properties of UV LED-cured transparent coatings were also investigated. A negative shift of the glass transition temperature values with a decrease in exposure time, in all combinations, from about 60 °C to 30 °C, along with storage moduli lowering in the glassy plateau further favors higher exposure times for curing. The refractive indices of poly-mers were from 1.38 to 1.40, whereas the thermo-optic coefficients are showing minor changes around the value of 2.55∙10-4 K-1.

A Dual-Cavity Fiber Fabry-Pérot Interferometer for Simultaneous Measurement of Thermo-Optic and Thermal Expansion Coefficients of a Polymer.

This paper presents a novel method based on a dual-cavity fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer (DCFFPI) for simultaneously measuring the thermo-optic coefficient (TOC) and thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of a polymer. The polymer is, by nature, highly responsive to temperature (T) in that its size (length, L) and refractive index (RI, n) are highly dependent on the thermal effect. When the optical length of the polymer cavity changes with T, it is difficult to distinguish whether there is a change in L or n, or both. The variation rates of L and n with a change in T were the TOC and TEC, respectively. Therefore, there was a cross-sensitivity between TOC and TEC in the polymer-based interferometer. The proposed DCFFPI, which cascades a polymer and an air cavity, can solve the above problem. The expansion of the polymer cavity is equal to the compression of the air cavity with the increase in T. By analyzing the individual optical spectra of the polymer and air cavities, the parameters of TOC and TEC can be determined at the same time. The simultaneous measurement of TOC and TEC with small measured deviations of 6 × 10-6 (°C-1) and 3.67 × 10-5 (°C-1) for the polymer NOA61 and 7 × 10-6 (°C-1) and 1.46 × 10-4 (°C-1) for the NOA65 can be achieved. Experimental results regarding the measured accuracy for the class of adhesive-based polymer are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and verify the usefulness of the proposed DCFFPI.

Simulation Study of High Sensitivity Fiber SPR Temperature Sensor with Liquid Filling.

In this paper, a high sensitivity fiber temperature sensor based on surface plasmon resonance is designed and studied. In the simulation, the single mode fiber is polished to remove most of the cladding, and then gold and silver films are added. Finally, it is embedded in the heat shrinkable tube filled with a thermo-optic coefficient liquid for curing. The numerical simulation results show that the sensing characteristics are sensitive to the remaining cladding thickness of the fiber, the thickness of the gold film and the thickness of the silver film. When the thermo-optic coefficient of the filling liquid is -2.8 × 10-4/°C, the thickness of the gold film, the thickness of the silver film and the thickness of the remaining cladding of the fiber are 30 nm, 20 nm and 1 µm, respectively. The sensitivity of the sensor designed in this paper can reach -6 nm/°C; this result is slightly higher than that of similar research in recent years. It will have a promising application prospect in flexible wearable temperature sensors, smart cities and other fields.

SiO2 Nanoparticles-Acrylate Formulations for Core and Cladding in Planar Optical Waveguides.

A combination of acrylate formulations and SiO2 nanoparticles is investigated with the aim to improve the optical properties of low-refractive index polymers that are used for the fabrication of planar optical waveguides. A decrease in refractive index and also in the thermo-optic coefficient of nanocomposite materials is clearly demonstrated, while some formulations exhibit an increase in the glass transition temperature. The possibility of using these nanocomposite materials to fabricate waveguiding layers with low optical propagation losses at telecommunication wavelengths around 1550 nm is also shown. The nanomaterials can be applied in optical microchips on polymer platforms.

Vanadium-Oxide-Based Thin Films with Ultra-High Thermo-Optic Coefficients at 1550 nm and 2000 nm Wavelengths.

In this paper, the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of vanadium-sesquioxide-based thin films are studied to assess their suitability for thermally tunable filters at optical communication wavelengths. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is utilized to measure the optical constants of vanadium oxide thin films at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 65 °C. High thermo-optic coefficients (dn/dTs) were observed. The highest dn/dTs, measured at approximately 40 °C, were -8.4 × 10-3/°C and -1.05 × 10-2/°C at 1550 nm and 2000 nm, respectively.

Analysis and Optimization of Thermodiffusion of an FBG Sensor in the Gas Nitriding Process.

In this paper, we report the numerical calculations for a thermo-optical model and the temperature sensitivity of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. The thermally-induced behaviors of a FBG sensor in the gas nitriding process were analyzed for temperatures ranging from 100⁻650 °C. The FBG consisted of properly chosen photosensitive fiber materials with an optimized thermo-optic coefficient. The experimental and optimized thermo-optic coefficient results were consistent in terms of temperature sensitivity. In these experiments, the temperature sensitivity of the FBG was found to be 11.9 pm/°C.

Passive Temperature Stabilization of Silicon Photonic Devices Using Liquid Crystals.

In this work we explore the negative thermo-optic properties of liquid crystal claddings for passive temperature stabilization of silicon photonic integrated circuits. Photonic circuits are playing an increasing role in communications and computing, but they suffer from temperature dependent performance variation. Most existing techniques aimed at compensation of thermal effects rely on power hungry Joule heating. We show that integrating a liquid crystal cladding helps to minimize the effects of a temperature dependent drift. The advantage of liquid crystals lies in their high negative thermo-optic coefficients in addition to low absorption at the infrared wavelengths.

A temperature-insensitive cladding-etched Fiber Bragg grating using a liquid mixture with a negative thermo-optic coefficient.

To compensate for the temperature dependency of a standard FBG, a cladding-etched FBG immersed with a liquid mixture having a negative thermo-optic coefficient is presented, and its characteristics are investigated. The Bragg wavelength of the cladding-etched FBG is shifted counter to the direction of the Bragg wavelength shift of a conventional FBG according to the mixing ratio of glycerin to water; thus, the temperature-dependent Bragg wavelength shift was almost compensated by using a liquid mixture of water (50%) and glycerin (50%) having the negative thermo-optic coefficient of -5 × 10(-4) °C(-1).