MassTech Collaborative has helped to make the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a beacon for advanced manufacturing. In partnership with the AIM Photonics manufacturing institute, MassTech has launched five Laboratories for Education and Application Prototypes (LEAPs) within academic institutions spread widely across Massachusetts, to develop a skilled workforce in integrated photonics. Hands-on and in-person workshops, bootcamps and laboratory courses are offered at these LEAPs to learners from academia, industry, and the government. The MA LEAP network stands as an excellent self-sustaining model for hands-on STEM education and workforce training for the rest of the country.
Heterodyne interferometer laser gauges are used in space- based astronomical interferometers to very accurately measure and compensate for variations in starlight pathlength. Bragg cells have been traditionally used to generate the heterodyne signal by shifting the frequency of the laser light. This paper presents the development and qualification of an integrated optic frequency shifter (IOFS) which offers improved performance and reliability compared with Bragg cell technology. The most critical advantage of the IOFS for space applications is that it enables fiber optic metrology source integration, which facilitates the integration process and result in more reliable and compact heterodyne interferometer laser gauges.
Research was performed to determine the performance characteristics of emitter-coupled logic compatible phase modulators (1.3 micrometers and 1.5 micrometers ), bias control modulators (1.3 micrometers ), and diode pumped Nd:YAG lasers in various environments. The stability of the materials and the performance of the devices when exposed to elevated temperatures, vibration and humidity were examined to determine and assess potential failure mechanisms. Results of the research has led to improvements in the modulator packages and laser mounting structures.
Several studies have been performed recently that demonstrate the reliability of lithium niobate Annealed Proton Exchanged (APE) Integrated Optical Circuits (IOCs). Studies have been performed on APE IOC die as well as pigtailed and packaged devices. The tests indicate that the reliability of APE IOCs meet or surpass the needs of most military and commercial applications.
Optical attenuators for proton-exchanged and annealed waveguides in LiNbO3 are modeled by the matrix effective refractive index (MERI) method. It is shown theoretically and experimentally that an attenuation of 1.6 dB/mm can be expected for a titanium-gold metallic overlay. The theory indicates that this attenuation can be increased to nearly 4.5 dB/mm by placing a titanium dioxide layer between the waveguide surface and the metallization.
A 2.8-inch diameter, low-cost interferometric gyroscope has been created through the application of a prototype LiNbO3-based integrated optical circuit (IOC) that incorporates polarizing waveguides, phase modulators, a power splitter/mixer, and polarization-maintaining 'fiber pigtails'. Instrument closed-loop performance exceeds 0.1 deg/hr (1-sigma) bias-drift performance at 100-sec integration time.
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