Rapid prototyping of integrated sol-gel devices for astronomical interferometry

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2008

Authors

Ghasempour, A (Author) Other; Alexandre, D (Author) Other; Brites, C (Author) Other; Moreira, PJ (Author) Other; Reynaud, F (Author) Other; Marques, PVS (Author) FCUP; Leite, AMP (Author) FCUP; Garcia, PJV (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: OPTICAL AND INFRARED INTERFEROMETRY

Conference on Optical and Infrared Interferometry

Marseille, FRANCE, JUN 23-27, 2008

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

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Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Other engineering and technologies

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-4BC

DOI: 10.1117/12.788845

Abstract (EN): Integrated optics is a mature technology with standard applications to telecommunications. Since the pioneering work of Berger et al. 1999 beam combiners for optical interferometry have been built using this technology. Classical integrated optics device production is very expensive and time consuming. The rapid production of devices using hybrid sol-gel materials in conjunction with UV laser direct writing techniques allows overcoming these limitations. In this paper this technology is tested for astronomical applications. We report on the design, fabrication and characterization of multiaxial two beam combiners and a coaxial beam combiner for astronomical interferometry. Different multiaxial two beam combiner designs were tested and high contrast (better than 90%) was obtained with a 1.3 mu m laser diode and with an SLID (lambda(0) = 1.26 mu m, FWHM of 60 nm). High contrast fringes were produced with 1.3 mu m laser diode using the coaxial two beam combiner. These results show that hybrid sol-gel techniques produce devices with high quality, allowing the rapid prototyping of new designs and concepts for astronomy.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8