MSE MS Thesis Presentation of Debangshu Mukherjee

TITLE: Structured Semiconductor Fibers For Mid-Infrared TransmissionABSTRACT: The mid-Infrared (mid-IR: 3-12 μm wavelength range) spectral range represents a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that impacts practically every aspect of human society, and is used for biomedical surgery, chemical sensing to technologies that enhance defense capabilities. Semiconductors like silicon and germanium can effectively transmit lightin the mid infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In addition to remote transmission of mid-Infrared light, by tailoring the index of refraction of a semiconductor fiber waveguide, one can manipulate the nonlinear properties of light pulses, which leads to temporally and spectrally shaping them, thus using the passive optical fiber itself as a medium to create new color sources, or detection systems. To create low loss waveguides and to be able to manipulate light, there is the necessity to fabricate refractive index structures. Current semiconductor waveguides that have refractive index structures are short in length(~30cm), while long semiconductor waveguides do not possess refractive index structures.Optical fiber is fabricated by drawing preforms in a fiber draw tower. The most versatile technique for preformfabrication with refractive index structures is the Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD) process. In thisresearch, the MCVD and the draw tower in the BU Photonics Center were used to deposit silicon and germanium insideglass tubes. Precursor gases like silane and germane were flown through Duran, Vycor and Fused silica tubes in a tubefurnce to deposit silicon and germanium in the inner surface of the tubes. The as-deposited glass tubes were collapsedin the flame on the MCVD lathe to form solid preforms. The preforms were characterized by optical and electronmicroscopy to understand the MCVD reaction kinetics. In this research, semiconductor core preforms were successfully collapsed for the first time.COMMITTEE: Advisor: Soumendra Basu, MSE/ME; Siddharth Ramachandran, MSE/ECE

When 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Location 15 Saint Mary's Street, Rm 105