Variational coupled-mode theory of optical couplers

A scalar coupled-mode theory is developed from the variational principle. The formulation is variational in the sense that the mode parameters are adjustable and can be optimized subject to the coupling between the guides. The theory is applied to slab and fiber couplers. In comparison with the conventional scalar coupled-mode theory in which only the amplitudes of the modes in the individual guides are adjustable, the variational scalar coupled-mode theory predicts more accurate propagation constants and field patterns of the normal modes of the couplers     

Acoustic-optic filters

Optical filters are an important building block in the next generation of optical communication systems. Optical networks seem to be headed towards densely packed wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems. These WDM systems require optical filters for the purpose of wavelength selection and switching. Numerous optical filters have been proposed including acousto-optical filters, electro-optical filters, and Fabry-Perots. Acoustically tunable optical filters (ATOFs) are considered promising. ATOFs are not only an important WDM device; they have great potential in many other applications such as optical spectroscopy. The acousto-optic tunable filter has a unique combination of desirable properties. These properties make it a potentially important building block     

Development of a Broadband NbTiN Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier for MKID Readout

The sensitivity of microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) using dissipation readout is limited by the noise temperature of the cryogenic amplifier, usually a HEMT with \(T_n \sim \) 5 K. A lower noise amplifier is required to improve NEP and reach the photon noise limit at millimeter wavelengths. Eom et al. have proposed a kinetic inductance traveling wave (KIT) parametric amplifier (also called the dispersion-engineered travelling wave kinetic inductance parametric amplifier) that utilizes the nonlinearity with very low dissipation of NbTiN. This amplifier has the promise to achieve quantum limited noise, broad bandwidth, and high dynamic range, all of which are required for ideal MKID dissipation readout. We have designed a KIT amplifier which consists of a 2.2 m long coplanar waveguide transmission line fabricated in a double spiral format, with periodic loadings and impedance transformers at the input/output ports on a 2 by 2 cm Si chip. The design was fabricated with 20 nm NbTiN films. The device has shown over 10 dB of gain from 4 to 11 GHz. We have found the maximum gain is limited by abrupt breakdown at defects in the transmission line in the devices. By cascading two devices, more than 20 dB of gain was achieved from 4.5 to 12.5 GHz, with a peak of \(\sim \) 27 dB.     

Photoconductivity in CuInSe2 films

CulnSe₂ films with different Cu/In ratios (0.4–1.2) were deposited on glass substrates by three source evaporation techniques. The films were polycrystalline in nature with partially depleted grains. Photoconductivity in the films was measured in the temperature range 170–370 K. The data at low temperatures (T < 300 K) were analyzed by using the grain boundary trapping model with monovalent trapping states. The intercrystalline barrier height in dark varied within 0.13 and 0.08 eV with the variation of Cu/In within 0.4 and 1.18. The variation of the barrier height with the intensity of the incident photons in the range 10–75 mW / cm² was analyzed to understand the carrier detrapping effect in the films under various illumination levels.     

One-minute microwave-assisted chemical bath deposition of nanostructured ZnO rod-arrays

Microwave-assisted chemical bath deposition (MACBD) is an emerging route for rapid synthesis of films and nanostructured particles. In this paper we report MACBD of ZnO rod-array films on bare glass substrates from an aqueous bath of tetra ammonium zinc complex. The deposition time is reduced to about 1 min as compared to around 60 min for conventional CBD. X-ray diffraction study shows that as-deposited films are uniaxially out-of-plane textured along the c-axis. Scanning Electron Microscopy reveals that the films consist of elongated elliptical tapered rods of diameters 250 to 350 nm. Atomic Force Microscopy shows that the films consist of about 350 nm grains. The RMS roughness is about 60 nm. The energy band gap is 3.27 eV as estimated from optical data. The films are n-type with electrical conductivity of 1 × 10^− 4 S/cm.     

A three-dimensional eigenfunction expansion approach for singular stress field near an adhesively-bonded scarf joint interface in a rigidly-encased plate

A three-dimensional eigenfunction expansion approach for determination of the singular stress field in the vicinity of an adhesively-bonded scarf joint interface in a plate, with its top and bottom surfaces being encased, fully or partially, between infinitely rigid blocks is presented. The plate is subjected to extension/bending (mode I) and in-plane shear/twisting (mode II) far-field loading. Both the adhesive layer and plate materials are assumed to be isotropic and elastic. The boundary conditions that are prescribed on the end-faces (free, fixed and lubricated) of the plate as well as those, prescribed at the bottom or top surface of the scarf-bonded plate on either side of the interface between the plate and adhesive layer materials (fixed-fixed, free-fixed and fixed-free), are exactly satisfied. Numerical results include the dependence of the lowest eigenvalue (or most severe stress singularity) on the wedge aperture angle of the plate material. Variation of the same with respect to the shear moduli ratio of the constituent plate and adhesive layer materials is also an important part of the present investigation. Hitherto unobserved interesting and physically meaningful conclusions in regards to the fixed edge singularity and delamination type flaw sensitivity of an adhesively bonded plate surface are also presented. Finally, hitherto unavailable results, pertaining to the through-width variations of stress intensity factors corresponding to symmetric and skew-symmetric sinusoidal loads that also satisfy the boundary conditions on the end-faces of the adhesively bonded plate, in the vicinity of the scarf joint interface, under investigation, bridge a longstanding gap in the bonded joint stress singularity/fracture mechanics literature.     

A finite-difference time-domain method for the design and analysisof guided-wave optical structures

A CAD tool employing the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm is developed for the design and analysis of optical waveguide structures. The basic formulation of the algorithm is given, and practical conditions for its application are briefly outlined. The accuracy of the numerical scheme is investigated through a study of a canonical parallel-slabs coupling structure. Both the coupling length and the field distribution are in good agreement with results in the literature. The use of the method is illustrated by an analysis of a directional coupler     

Evaluation of Petroleum Impurities in Motor Spirit and Diesel Oils Using Artificial Neural Network

Studies have been conducted for the ternary mixture of motor spirit, diesel, and kerosene oil samples using artificial neural network (ANN). American standard for testing materials (ASTM) distillation data of samples were used for the evaluation of respective components. Results of such evaluation of the samples were found to comply well with experimental values.