Planar Large Core Polymer Optical 1x2 and 1x4 Splitters Connectable to Plastic Optical Fiber

We report about new approach to design and fabricate multimode 1 x 2 and 1 x 4 Y optical planar power splitter suitable for low-cost short distance optical network. The splitters were designed by beam propagation method using BeamPROP™ software. The dimensions of the splitters were optimized for connecting standard plastic optical fibre with 1 mm diameter. New Norland Optical Adhesives 1625 glues were used as optical waveguide layers and the design structures were completed by CNC engraving on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate. The best parameters that were achieved with 1x2 splitter were insertion loss around 4.1dB at 650 nm and the coupling ratio 52:48; the best one of the 1x4 splitters had at 650 nm insertion loss around 17.6 dB

Design and Modeling of Symmetric Three Branch Polymer Planar Optical Power Dividers

Two types of polymer-based three-branch symmetric planar optical power dividers (splitters) were designed, multimode interference (MMI) splitter and triangular shape-spacing splitter. By means of modeling the real structures were simulated as made of Epoxy Novolak Resin on silicon substrate, with silica buffer layer and polymethylmethacrylate as protection cover layer. The design of polymer waveguide structure was done by Beam Propagation Method. After comparing properties of both types of the splitters we have demonstrated that our new polymer based triangular shaped splitter can work simultaneously in broader spectrum, the only condition would be that the waveguides are single-mode guiding. It practically means that, what concerns communication wavelengths, it can on principle simultaneously operate at two mainly used wavelengths, 1310 and 1550 nm

Design of the Novel Wavelength Triplexer Using Multiple Polymer Microring Resonators

We report about new design of wavelength triplexer using multiple polymer optical microring resonators. Triplexer consists of two downstream wavelength channels operating at 1490 ± 10 nm, 1555 ± 10 nm and one upstream wavelength channel operating at 1310 ± 50 nm. The parallel coupled double ring resonator was used for separation of the optical signal band at 1555 nm and filtered out signal bands 1310 nm and 1490 nm. The serially coupled triple optical microring resonator was used for separation of the optical signal band at 1490 nm and filtered out signal bands 1310 nm and 1555 nm. The design was done by using FullWAVETM software by the finite-difference time-domain method. Simulation showed that optical losses for band at 1555 nm were -3 dB and crosstalk between signal bands 1555 nm and 1490 nm was 24 dB. Calculated optical losses for channel 1490 nm were less than -2.5 dB and signal bands at 1555 nm was filtered out with less than 18 dB loss. The bands at 1310 nm were fully filtered out from both downstream wavelength channels operating at bands 1490 nm and 1555 nm

Large Core Three Branch Polymer Power Splitters

We report about three branch large core polymer power splitters optimized for connecting standard plastic optical fibers. A new point of the design is insertion of a rectangle-shaped spacing between the input and the central part of the splitter, which will ensure more even distribution of the output optical power. The splitters were designed by beam propagation method using BeamPROP software. Acrylic-based polymers were used as optical waveguides being poured into the Y-grooves realized by computer numerical controlled engraving on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate. Measurement of the optical insertion losses proved that the insertion optical loss could be lowered to 2.1 dB at 650 nm and optical power coupling ratio could reach 31.8% : 37.3% : 30.9%

Design of Polymer Wavelength Splitter 1310 nm/1550 nm Based on Multimode Interferences

We report about design of 1x2 1310/1550 nm optical wavelength division multiplexer based on polymer waveguides. The polymer splitter was designed by using RSoft software based on beam propagation method. Epoxy novolak resin polymer was used as core waveguides layer, silicon substrate with silica layer was used as buffer layer and polymethylmethacrylate was used as protection cover layer. The simulation shows that the output energy for the fundamental mode is 67.1 % for 1310 nm and 67.8 % for 1550 nm wavelength

Design, Fabrication and Properties of Rib Poly(methylmethacrylimide) Optical Waveguides

We report about design, fabrication and properties of the polymer optical waveguides deposited on silica-on-silicon substrate. The design of the waveguides is based on a concept that geometric dimensions of the single mode polymer waveguide are determined by geometrical parameters of the silica layer. The design of the waveguides was schemed for 650 nm, 850 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm wavelength. The design of the presented planar waveguides was realized on the bases of modified dispersion equation while the ridge waveguides design was proposed following the Fischbeck concept. Both designs were refined applying RSoft software using beam propagation method. Proposed shapes of the waveguides were etched by standard photolithography process into the silica layers and polymer waveguide layers were subsequently deposited into the treated substrate by spin coating. Poly(methylmethacrylimide) was used as the waveguide core material and polymethylmethacrylate was used as a cover protection layer. Propagation optical loss measurements were done by using the cut-back method and the best samples had optical losses lower than 0.6 dB/cm at 650 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm

Surface and thermomechanical characterization of polyurethane networks based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) and hyperbranched polyester

Two series of polyurethane (PU) networks based on Boltorn® hyperbranched polyester (HBP) and hydroxyethoxy propyl terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (EO-PDMS) or hydroxy propyl terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (HPPDMS), were synthesized. The effect of the type of soft PDMS segment on the properties of PUs was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurements, surface free energy determination, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The surface characterization of PUs showed existence of slightly amphiphilic character and it revealed that PUs based on HP-PDMS have lower surface free energy, more hydrophobic surface and better waterproof performances than PUs based on EO-PDMS. PUs based on HPPDMS had higher crosslinking density than PUs based on EO-PDMS. DSC and DMTA results revealed that these newlysynthesized PUs exhibit the glass transition temperatures of the soft and hard segments. DMTA, SEM and AFM results confirmed existence of microphase separated morphology. The results obtained in this work indicate that PU networks based on HBP and PDMS have improved surface and thermomechanical properties

THE RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY USE FOR MONITORING OF CHANGES IN THE GLASS STRUCTURE OF THE THIN LAYERS CAUSED BY ION IMPLANTATION

In this paper, we have demonstrated the utility of Raman spectroscopy as a technique for the characterisation of changes in the glass structure of the thin layers caused by ion implantation. Various types of silicate glasses were implanted by Au+ ions with energy of 1.7 MeV and a fluence of 1 x 1016 ions.cm-2 to create gold nanoparticles in thin sub-surface layer of the glass. It was proved that the structure of the glass has an indisputable impact on the extent of depolymerisation of the glass network after implantation. It was shown that the degree of glass matrix depolymerisation can be described using the evaluation of Qn factors in the implanted layers from different depths. After analysis of Raman spectra, the relation between nucleation and the resulting parameters of the gold nanoparticles was put into connection with the feasibility of the glass to recover its structure during post-implantation annealing. Also the creation of new bonds in the glass network was discussed

The validity of the index of vulnerable homes : evidence from consumers vulnerable to energy poverty in the UK

Energy poverty is a multidimensional issue, and this means that it is difficult to understand the different levels of vulnerability to this phenomenon and its relationship with households’ quality of life. This paper presents the validation of an innovative index for the analysis of vulnerability to energy poverty according to monetary, energy and thermal comfort factors: The Index of Vulnerable Homes (IVH). The IVH goes beyond the use of single self-reported indicators of thermal comfort, and instead uses the adaptive thermal-comfort model defined in the normative UNE EN 15251:2007 to assess thermal comfort in relation to energy poverty. Furthermore, it has the potential to evaluate societal impacts of current energy poverty policies by providing the economic analysis of different situations of vulnerability. The IVH is validated by comparing its results to those obtained from a survey conducted in a small-scale study undertaken in Salford, UK. To this end, evidence from households living in terraced houses built before 1980 is used to analyse health status in terms of vulnerability to energy poverty vulnerability according to their monetary situation and the characteristics of the dwelling. In the end, the results show good agreement between both the IVH’s assessment and households’ evidence, leading to consider the IVH as a suitable approach to understanding different levels of vulnerability to energy poverty

Design, Fabrication and Properties of the Multimode Polymer Planar 1 x 2 Y Optical Splitter

We report about design, fabrication and measurement of the properties of multimode 1 x 2 optical planar power splitter. The splitters were designed with help of OptiCAD software using ray tracing method. The dimensions of the splitters were then optimized for connecting standard Plastic Optical Fiber. Norland Optical Adhesives glues were used as optical waveguide layers and the design structures were completed by CNC engraving on Poly(methyl methacrylate) or Poly(methylmethacrylimide) substrate. The devices have the insertion loss around 7.6 dB at 650 nm and the coupling ratio was 52:48