Optoelectronics

Introduction

Ongoing Projects

The Photomechanics Laboratory is equipped with gas lasers, diode lasers, and broadband superluminescent sources of various wavelengths and powers. The facility also has a wide assortment of optical components and fixtures typical of a modern laboratory, including personal computers for data acquisition, a dedicated digital image processing workstation, and microscopes, translation stages, lenses (and holders) and mirrors (and mounts), filters, in excess of ten oscilloscopes, ten function generators, two electrical spectrum analyzers, many AC and DC power supplies, analog filters, and other off-the-shelf electronic components required to develop optical fiber sensor optoelectronic systems. Commensurate with its strong history in fiber optic sensor development, the Photomechanics Laboratory has a wide assortment of fiber optic instrumentation and components, such as four fusion splicers, two optical spectrum analyzers, one optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), several power meters, one erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), eight laser drivers and thermo-electric cooler controllers, many couplers, modulators, photodetectors, etc. Chief among the lab's capabilities is a Bragg grating fabrication facility centered on a frequency doubled argon ion laser. The facility is housed in a 120 sq. ft. class 1000 clean room. Other capabilities of this laboratory include: optical loss measurements, fiber cleaving and splicing, spectral analysis, and fiber sensor fabrication.

Listing of Equipment

A broadband light source such as an erbium doped fiber amplifier emits a light signal at a wide frequency. Such devices are the centerpiece of any fiber optics laboratory. CALCE has access to two broadband light sources: AT&T M1702 EDFA Broadband Source and AFC BBS 1310 P-TS Broadband Light Source

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There are a number of devices used to characterize the wavelength and intensity of light sources, including optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, and multi-wavelength meters.

An optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) is a device that measures the wavelength spectrum and intensity of a light source. This device is used to analyze fiber-coupled light sources and fiber optic sensors. It can also be used to monitor the integrity of the frequency bandwidth of optical sources. CALCE has two optical system analyzers: A Hewlett Packard 70004A Optical Spectrum Analyzer and an Advantest Q8344A Optical Spectrum Analyzer.

A power meter, like the Rifocs 575L Power Meter at CALCE, measures the intensity of a light source and can be used to measure loss in fiber optic systems.

Hewlett Packard 86120B Multi-wavelength meter: A multi-wavelength meter is a device which monitors the intensity of a light source at distinct wavelengths. Such a device is used to analyze light sources and fiber optic sensors. 

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Vitran FS1000 Fusion Splicer: A fusion splicer is a device that joins two pieces of optical fiber by a fusion process. Applications of this device include repairing broken fiber and constructing fiber sensors.

York Fiber Cleaver: A cleaver is a machine that separates a fiber into two pieces.

• Clients
• Environmental Conditioning and Accelerated Testing
• Failure Analysis
• Material Characterization
• Mptoelectronics
• Optomechanics
• Parts Selection and Management
• Performance Assessment and Uprating
• Software Development and Simulation
• Smart and Small Thermal Systems
• Electronic Parts Authentication and Screening
• CALCE-RWTT RoHS Testing
• Electronic System Cost Modeling