Composite materials, such as polymer-matrix containing conductive fillers, are very attractive for shielding
electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to their high shielding efficiency and seamlessness, processability, flexibility,
light-weight and low-cost. Here, we report a development of novel, DNA-based EMI-shielding materials (DESM),
consisting of DNA and metal nanoparticles. It has been shown that a thin DESM layer (typically ~30 - 50 μm) could
block EMI radiations up to 60 dB effectively over an RF frequency range from KHz to tens GHz, exhibiting excellent
EMI shielding efficiency. A wide selection of metal nanoparticle fillers for DESM has been tested for their performance
in EMI shielding efficiency. Among them, silver and carbon-based nanoparticles have demonstrated the best
performance and were selected for further investigation. The silver-doped DESM films could be also non-conductive
while their EMI shielding efficiency is still well-preserved. The nonconductive DESM could have a great potential in the
microelectronics industries for EMI shielding on electronic devices and circuit boards.
In this paper we present our current research in developing non-conductive, optically transparent electromagnetic
interference (EMI) or radio frequency (RF) shielding. It uses metallic nanopowders blended with deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) based host materials. Recent results of this DNA-based EMI shielding demonstrate 18-27dB over a frequency
range of 18 - 6 GHz, respectively, with an electrical resistivity measuring > 20MΩ for a 20 μm dielectric spacing. These
films were optical transparent in the visible wavelength range.
We report experimental observations and theoretical modeling of an unusual photoelectric effect in deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) thin-film devices, under visible and near-infrared illumination. The devices also show diode-type
rectifying current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. An equivalent circuit model was constructed that fits the
experimental data, and physical processes likely to arise in the devices are discussed. We envisage the formation of a
Schottky barrier at the DNA film-metal interface and infer that the photoresponse arises from photoinjection of
electrons from the metal into the DNA film.
Progress in the development of a new class of multi-functional polyimides for use in electro-optical devices is reported.
These polyimides contain hydroxymethyl-functional side-groups attached to the polymer backbone, allowing for the
attachment of a wide variety of molecular species. It is shown that multiple types of organic molecules may be attached
to the polymer simultaneously, with a quantitatively controllable distribution, to tailor the physical properties of the
material. Methods for cross-linking the polyimides are presented, based on both modification to the backbone and the
addition of difunctional additives (such as isocyanates) to solutions of the polymer during spin casting. Processing
studies using spectroscopy to track the cross-linking reaction and its effects on organic nonlinear optical materials
indicate that the latter method is compatible with poling processes for polymer guest/host systems with high nonlinear
optical activities. Further studies using a novel thermomechanical analysis method demonstrate that the cross-linking
reactions increase the glass transition temperature and inhibit physical relaxation processes in the cross-linked
guest/host films.
This paper presents a means for creating optical fiber sensors that are capable of detecting electric fields. This
novel E-field sensor is formed as part of a contiguous fiber resulting in a flexible and small cross-section device
that could be embedded into electronic circuitry. The sensor is formed by partially etching out the core of a
D-shaped optical fiber and depositing an electro-optic polymer. Using PMMA and DR1 for proof of concept,
we demonstrate the operation of the first in-fiber hybrid waveguide electric field sensor with a sensitivity of less
than 100 V/m at a frequency of 2.9 GHz. Sensors optimized for low loss (~1dB) have an estimated E&pgr; of 222
MV/m. A sensor with an E&pgr; of 60 MV/m is also demonstrated with an insertion loss of 14.4 dB.
We report the first observation of unanticipated photoelectric effects (PE) under visible and near-infrared illuminations
and diode-type rectifying current-voltage (I-V) characteristics in DNA-metal contact devices. These devices are
constructed with DNA film sandwiched between gold (or some other metal) and transparent conductive ITO electrodes.
Since the gold work function and the bangaps of ITO and DNA are greater than 4 eV, in order to release an electron in
these materials, the photon energy must be greater than 4 eV, indicating an ultraviolet light source is needed. To explain
these phenomena, we hypothesize that a Schottky barrier was formed at DNA-gold interfaces when the gold layer was
deposited on the soft DNA film during the sputtering process. The Schottky barrier could replace the gold work function
in the DNA-gold interface and greatly reduce the potential barriers. The lowered Schottky potential barrier allowed the
electrons, excited by lower photon energies, to overcome the barrier into the conduction band and generate photocurrent.
The observed photoelectrical effect was used to measure a ~1.52eV Schottky barrier height in DNA-gold contacts.
Furthermore, we measured static I-V characteristics of the DNA-metal devices showing typical diode-rectifying
behaviors. The observed photoelectrical effect and I-V characteristics strongly suggest a Schottky barrier at the DNA-metal
interface.
A method of chemical synthesis that allows for the facile attachment of a wide variety of chemical compounds, including highly active nonlinear optical chromophores, to polyimides has been developed recently at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division. The synthesis of these compounds is presented, along with a discussion of their relevant physical and chemical properties, alone and in comparison to equivalent guest/host materials. Examples of attached chromophores include the well-known Disperse Red 1, along with high-activity chromophores of more recent interest such as FTC and CLD. The synthesis of structures that contain both attached chromophores and chemical functionalities that enable thermal cross-linking of the polyimides is also discussed.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Polymers, Waveguides, Electric field sensors, Antennas, Optical fibers, High power microwaves, Modulation, Polarization, Signal detection
Aimed at test and evaluation needs on high power microwave (HPM) weapons, we describe new developments on miniature all-dielectric optical field sensors with flat RF sensing response from ~ MHz to 12 GHz, with negligible field perturbation, good sensitivity (~70 mV/(mH√z), and >100dB dynamic range. Present devices use a 20 mm long sensing region in an integrated optical (IO) waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) using electrooptic (EO) polymer for the waveguide. The fiber-coupled optical transmitter/receiver utilizes common optical communication technology. The incident HPM RF field induces an instantaneous change in the index of refractive of the polymer that is converted into an optical intensity modulation in the MZI device. The poled EO polymer requires no electrodes nor metallic antennas that can distort the field under test. We characterized the frequency response and polarization sensitivity of the field sensor, and both agree well with modeling predictions. Common fabrication limitations result in devices with sensitivity to thermal drift. New sensor designs are being developed with remote bias control that also can provide self-calibration. To further reduce the sensor size and insertion loss, beneficial for array applications, an "in-fiber" field sensor is being developed. The core of a D-shaped fiber is partially removed and replaced with EO polymer. Such a device may use polarization modulation sensing, or be configured in similar MZI structures as the IO waveguide sensors.
Suitable organic and polymeric based materials for electronic and photonic applications must possess the desired
electromagnetic and optical properties to achieve optimal device performance in order to be more competitive with their
inorganic counterparts. A new class of biopolymer, processed from purified marine-based deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA), has been investigated for use in both electronic and photonic applications and has demonstrated promise as an
excellent dielectric and optical waveguide material. In this paper we present examples of devices using this new DNA-based
biopolymer.
Suitable polymer-based photonic materials must possess the desired optical and electromagnetic properties for optimal device performance depending on the intended application. A new class of polymer, processed from purified deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), has been investigated for use in photonic applications and has shown promise as an excellent optical waveguide material. In this paper we present the current optical and electronic properties of this new DNA-based biopolymer, including optical loss, temperature stability, refractive index, resistivity, dielectric constant and microwave insertion loss.
We added a control electrode to a phase-shifted Bragg grating filter in an electro-optic polymer waveguide to obtained voltage tunability. The waveguide grating transmission spectrum near 1.3 microns featured a 5 GHz passband with a peak transmission of 32% within a 2 nm wide, 12 dB deep blocking band. With the waveguide grating sandwiched between gold layers separated by ~10 microns, we were able to shift the transmission spectrum at a rate of 0.1 GHz/volt. Such filter tunability may be used in ultradense WDM channel selection or to compensate for detuning by environmental factors.
Recent developments in electro-optic polymer materials and devices have led to new opportunities for integrated optic devices in numerous applications. The results of numerous tests have indicated that polymer materials have many properties that are suitable for use in high-speed communications systems, various sensor systems, and space applications. These result coupled with recent advances in device and material technology will allow very large bandwidth modulators and switches with low drive voltages, improved loss, long-term stabilty, and integration with other microelectronic deices such as MEMS. Low drive voltage devices are very important for space applications where power consumption scales as the square of the modulator half-wave voltage. In addition, we have demonstrated novel dual polymer modulators for mixing RF signals to produce sum and difference frequency modulation on an optical beam. This novel approach allows the suppression of the modulation at the two input RF signals and only the mixing signals remain superimposed on the optical beam. The dual modulator can be used for various encoding and frequency conversion schemes that are frequently used for both terrestrial and space communcations. Another application of polymer integrated optics is in the field of optical sensing for high frequency electric field.
Optical insertion loss improvement is needed for high-speed, electrooptic polymer waveguide modulators. The insertion loss is mainly attributed to fiber end-coupling loss caused by mode mismatch between the fiber and the polymer waveguide. Three approaches of reducing end-coupling loss have been pursued: tapered waveguides, fiber tip lenses and modification of the waveguide structure. Tapered waveguides can be accomplished using Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and shadow or gray-scale mask techniques. Experimental results have shown that the best coupling loss improvement up to 3 dB per end-coupling can be achieved by tapered waveguide. Fiber tip lens technique has been currently investigated for improving end-coupling loss. Preliminary testing results using fiber tip lenses have been encouraging showing a 1.5 - 3.5 dB improvement per end-coupling. The fiber tip lens technique provides a reliable and repeatable approach for loss reduction for high-speed polymer modulators. Modifying a highly asymmetric rib waveguide to a symmetric buried channel waveguide will greatly improve coupling efficiency.
Electrooptic polymer waveguide modulators have demonstrated excellent characterizations including high-speed (with a bandwidth up to 100 GHz) and lower drive voltages. One key factor to achieve efficient high-speed modulation in polymer devices is to optimize the microstrip line electrodes. Theoretical simulations of microstrip electrode designs have recently been performed. Results show that an electrode 3-dB bandwidth could be significantly improved by increasing the polymer cladding layer thickness between electrodes, reducing the electrode length, or by using copper or silver instead of commonly used gold. Electrode surface flatness is also of great importance for device performance. Even a slight roughness on the electrode surface induced in processing could cause significant reduction on both electrical and optical response bandwidths.
Optical cross connects (OXC) play a key role in the contemporary metro DWDM networks. It provides optical interconnection between multiple interoffice metro fiber rings in addition to the simple wavelength add/drop functions. It also provides re-configurable routings and efficient recovery capabilities for mesh architectures with multiple access nodes over a metropolitan area. Any traffic traveling through such a multi-node ring and mesh network could potentially pass through a cascade of several optical cross-connects and several fiber spans. The cascadability is an important function of OXC in optical networks. This paper experimentally demonstrates the cascadability of all optical cross connects (OXC) in high speed (10Gb/s), DWDM (32l) optical networking through 300km SMF-28 fiber without regeneration. The power penalty is less than 0.5dB compared to the system without OXCs but with same amount of attenuation as the OXCs. The results conclude that by carefully managing the power budget and dispersion compensation, the penalty free transmission through cascaded OXC system can be achieved.
In a recent series of laboratory tests, a novel laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) was used to determine the stiffness degradation of concrete columns subjected to ever- increasing, reversed cyclic loads. As a rule, the stiffness degradation of concrete structures due to earthquake-induced damage is obvious in most circumstances. Unfortunately the visual inspection of those columns subjected to flexural failure in the laboratory did not heuristically convey the same impression of stiffness degradation as a detailed experimental modal analysis survey. Some 'failed' columns only exhibited minor surface cracks. There are several techniques to assess damage in 'failed' concrete structures; the natural frequency determination technique is one of them. As expected, an experimental modal analysis confirmed that the natural frequencies of each concrete column decreased as more damage was induced. Thus, a structure's stiffness degradation can be determined by comparing its pre- and post-damage natural frequencies. As an alternative to the experimental modal analysis, we report on the concrete columns' stiffness degradation from a series of flexural and shear strength test using a novel LDV. Two significant advantages of using the LDV in this application are: (1) the method is non-obtrusive and (2) the instrumentation required is minimal.
KEYWORDS: Teeth, Signal detection, Doppler effect, Blood circulation, Signal to noise ratio, Light scattering, Signal processing, Tissues, Sensors, Laser scattering
A modified laser Doppler flowmetry technique that significantly improves the performance of the current
technique in measuring pulpal blood flow is described. A preliminary model demonstrates that, by using a forward-scattered geometry, the detected signal will have a much higher signal-to-noise ratio and calibration capacity. The forward-scattered signal is readily detectable because teeth are relatively thin organs with moderate optical loss. Preliminary experiments comparing forward-scattered detection with conventional back-scattered detection were carried out using an extracted, perfused human molar. The results showed that: (1) the existing back-scattering method produced readings that fluctuated by as much as 187% in response to small changes in sensor position relative to the tooth and (2) the forward-scattered method produced consistent
readings (within 10%) that were independent of the sensor position, a signal-to-noise ratio that was at
least 5.6 times higher than that obtained by the back-scattering method, and a linear response to flow rate.
The results validated the findings of the preliminary model and clearly showed the superiority of the forward-scattering geometry.
KEYWORDS: Teeth, Blood circulation, Signal detection, Doppler effect, Signal to noise ratio, Calibration, Sensors, Signal processing, Light scattering, Scattering
We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a new configuration of laser Doppler flowmetry for dental pulpal blood flow measurements. To date, the vitality of a tooth can be determined only by subjective thermal or electric tests, which are of questionable reliability and may induced pain in patient. Non-invasive techniques for determining pulpal vascular reactions to injury, treatment, and medication are in great demand. The laser Doppler flowmetry technique is non-invasive; however, clinical studies have shown that when used to measure pulpal blood flow the conventional back-scattering Doppler method suffers from low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and unreliable flux readings rendering it impossible to calibrate. A simplified theoretical model indicates that by using a forward scattered geometry the detected signal has a much higher SNR and can be calibrated. The forward scattered signal is readily detectable due to the fact that teeth are relatively thin organs with moderate optical loss. A preliminary experiment comparing forward scattered detection with conventional back- scattered detection was carried out using an extracted human molar. The results validated the findings of the simple theoretical model and clearly showed the utility of the forward scattering geometry. The back-scattering method had readings that fluctuated by as much as 187% in response to small changes in sensor position relative to the tooth. The forward scattered method had consistent readings (within 10%) that were independent of the sensor position, a signal-to-noise ratio that was at least 5.6 times higher than the back-scattering method, and a linear response to flow rate.
Optical second harmonic generation (SHG) method has been applied to the investigation of mechanical stress condition of BESOI (bonded and etched-back silicon on insulator) wafers. SHG scanning of SOI wafers show drastic variations, which are explained, in the case of thin film BESOI, by the mechanical stress arising from the bonding of rough surfaces, and, in the case of thick film BESOI wafer, by the presence of polish-induced strain that results from the thinning process of the wafer. SHG rotational dependence was observed for BESOI wafers, and its symmetry preservation indicates essentially sound silicon film quality despite a high level of mechanical stress. Mechanical stress effect on the SHG signal is also demonstrated through externally applied stress on the BESOI wafer. SHG method is shown to be able to characterize mechanical stress of BESOI wafers and may even identify the sources of the stress.
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