Chris Scharfenorth

Characterization and modeling of Fabry–Perot ultrasound sensors with hard dielectric mirrors for photoacoustic imaging

A Fabry-Perot ultrasound sensor with nonhygroscopic dielectric mirrors made out of Ta2O5 and SiO2 for use in photoacoustic tomography is described. The sensor offers flat frequency response up to 36 MHz, low noise-equivalent pressure (70 Pa), and near-omnidirectional response up to 20 MHz as well as optical transparency for near-infrared illumination. A numerical model was developed to predict its frequency response, and the results were validated experimentally. An image of the human palm was acquired to demonstrate in vivo imaging capabilities.

Single cavity filters on end-faces of optical fibers

We have developed thin film Fabry-Perot filters directly coated on optical fibers to archive a high level of integration with a reduction of optical elements. Such band-pass filters can be used in fiber optical sensor systems, and for fiber communication, e.g. CWDM applications. The filters cavities consist of a single spacer and two dielectric mirrors. The dielectric mirrors are deposited by PVD directly on end-faces of single-mode optical fibers. Dielectric as well as polymeric materials were applied as the spacer layer. Polymeric spacer layers were deposited by dip coating. The influence of the mirror reflectivity on the transmission band of the Fabry-Perot filters was investigated. Furthermore, the optical performance of filters with first order (λ/2) as well as higher order spacers was analyzed. The experimental results are compared with numerical analysis of Fabry-Perot cavities on the end-face of cylindrical waveguides. The spectral characteristic of the filters are calculated using a software solving Maxwell´s equations by a FDTD method. The layer design of the filters and the deposition process were optimized for maximum transmission and narrow bandwidth of the transmission peak. Passive band-pass filters on fiber end-faces were designed, fabricated and characterized for transmission wavelengths of 945 nm, 1300 nm, as well as 1550 nm. Bandwidths as narrow as 1 nm could be achieved for 945 nm.

Laser pulse transmission and damage threshold of silica fibers with antireflective coatings

Standard 200 μm multimode fibers with Ta2O5/SiO2 antireflective coatings reach a transmission of more than 99.5% below the threshold of stimulated Brillouin scattering. The laser-induced damage threshold measured at 1064 nm and 24 ns pulse duration was about half than the LIDT of uncoated fibers.

Evaluation of Fabry-Perot polymer film sensors made using hard dielectric mirror deposition

Fabry-Perot (FP) polymer film sensors offer high acoustic sensitivity, small element sizes, broadband frequency response and optical transmission to enable high resolution, backward mode photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Typical approaches to sensor fabrication involve the deposition of stacks of alternating dielectric materials to form interferometer mirrors, which are separated by a polymer spacer. If hygroscopic soft dielectric materials are used, a protective polymer layer is typically required. In this study, methods for the deposition of water-resistant, hard dielectric materials onto polymers were explored to improve the robustness and performance of the sensors. This involved the optimisation of the fabrication process, the optical and acoustic characterisation of the sensors, and a comparison of the frequency response with the output of an acoustic forward model. The mirrors, which were separated by a 20 μm Parylene spacer, consisted of eight double layers of Ta2O5 and SiO2 deposited onto polymer substrates using temperature-optimised electron vapour deposition. The free spectral range of the interferometer was 32 nm, its finesse FR = 91, and its visibility V = 0.72. The noise-equivalent pressure was 0.3 kPa (20 MHz bandwidth). The measured frequency response was found to be more resonant at 25 MHz compared to sensors with soft dielectric mirrors, which was also in good agreement with the output of a forward model of the sensor. The sensors were used in a PA scanner to acquire 3-D images in tissue phantoms.

Fabry-Perot filter directly coated on fiber end-faces with high reliability

We have developed thin film Fabry-Perot filters directly coated on fiber end-faces. The layer design of the filters and the deposition process were optimized for maximum transmission, and the width of the transmission peak. The optical performance of Fabry-Perot filters deposited on fiber end-faces of single-mode as well as multimode optical fibers have been investigated. We have performed laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) measurements on the multi-layer systems to optimize the fiber preparation before deposition. The multi-layer systems were analyzed by means of atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.