Matthias Stecher

Direct Writing of Fiber Bragg Grating in Microstructured Polymer Optical Fiber

We report point-by-point laser direct writing of a 1520-nm fiber Bragg grating in a microstructured polymer optical fiber (mPOF). The mPOF is specially designed such that the microstructure does not obstruct the writing beam when properly aligned. A fourth-order grating is inscribed in the mPOF with only a 2.5-s writing time.

Terahertz quasi-time-domain spectroscopy imaging

We demonstrate terahertz (THz) imaging with a quasi-time-domain spectrometer. This type of THz system is inexpensive, compact, and relatively easy to set up. Beating the simultaneously emitted equidistant modes of a compact diode laser allows for analysis of samples at multiple frequencies with a single measurement. Thus, this technique merges the potential of terahertz time-domain spectrometers with the simplicity of continuous wave lasers. Multiple imaging applications and stability issues are discussed.

Hybrid continuous wave terahertz spectroscopy

We propose a hybrid architecture for continuous wave terahertz spectroscopy employing a conventional two color photomixing system combined with a quasi time domain spectrometer, driven by a multimode laser diode. This approach fuses high spectral intensity with broadband frequency information and overcomes the ambiguity of standard continuous wave thickness measurements.

Polymeric THz 2D Photonic Crystal Filters Fabricated by Fiber Drawing

In this paper, we report on a new form of polymeric 2D photonic crystal filters for THz frequencies fabricated using a standard fiber drawing technique. The band stop filters were modeled and designed using the generalized multipole technique. The frequency and angle-dependent transmission characteristics of the photonic crystal structures were characterized in a THz time-domain spectrometer.

Fiber drawn 2D polymeric photonic crystal THz filters

In this paper, we report on different polymeric 2D photonic crystal filters for THz frequencies which are fabricated by a standard fiber drawing technique. The bandstop filters were simulated and designed by the generalized multipole technique (GMT). The frequency and angle dependent transmission characteristics of the photonic crystal structures were characterized in a pulsed terahertz (THz) time domain spectrometer.

Fiber design and realization of point-by-point written fiber Bragg gratings in polymer optical fibers

An increasing interest in making sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) written in polymer optical fibers (POFs) has been seen recently. Mostly microstructured POFs (mPOFs) have been chosen for this purpose because they are easier to fabricate compared, for example, to step index fibers and because they allow to tune the guiding parameters by modifying the microstructure. Now a days the only technique used to write gratings in such fibers is the phase mask technique with UV light illumination. Despite the good results that have been obtained, a limited flexibility on the grating design and the very long times required for the writing of FBGs raise some questions about the possibility of exporting POF FBGs and the sensors based on them from the laboratory bench to the mass production market. The possibility of arbitrary design of fiber Bragg gratings and the very short time required to write the gratings make the point-by-point grating writing technique very interesting and would appear to be able to fill this technological gap. On the other end this technique is hardly applicable for microstructured fibers because of the writing beam being scattered by the air-holes. We report on the design and realization of a microstructured polymer optical fiber made of PMMA for direct writing of FBGs. The fiber was designed specifically to avoid obstruction of the writing beam by air-holes. The realized fiber has been used to point-by-point write a 5 mm long fourth order FBG with a Bragg wavelength of 1518 nm. The grating was inspected under Differential Interferometric Contrast microscope and the reflection spectrum was measured. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first FBGs written into a mPOF with the point-by-point technique and also the fastest ever written into a polymer optical fiber, with less than 2.5 seconds needed.

Hybrid continuous wave terahertz system

We present a hybrid continuous wave terahertz system, combining a two color photomixing system with a quasi time domain spectrometer, driven by a multimode laser diode. Overcoming the ambiguity of standard continuous wave thickness measurements is shown on different samples.

Discrete sampling of continuous wave terahertz radiation

We present a cost efficient delay technique for terahertz spectrometers based on discrete phase shifting of the THz wave. This can be achieved by using a polymer disc with segments of different thickness. The approach is demonstrated by measurements with a six segment disc placed in the THz beam.