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Optical signal processing
Theory and applications for information and communications technologies
This programme is concerned with the development of optically active organic materials with a view to incorporating them into novel all-optical processing devices. A key challenge is to prepare materials with the requisite temporal, photochemical and thermal stabilities.
The programme objectives are:
- Development of materials for thin film electrically reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers: these are the optical switches found in dense wavelength division multiplexing systems. DWDM[?] systems allow different wavelengths of light to be sent down a single fibre. This in turn enables the development of tunable devices.
- Thin film Mach Zender modulators: synthesis of thin film modulators. These modulators allow rapid conversion of electrical signals to optical signals.
- Poling efficiency: the thin films produced will be tested to measure their electro-optic properties.
- Photostability studies: the photostability of the novel optically active organic materials we develop is critical to their success. We are carrying out studies to better understand factors influencing optical characteristics and longer term stability.
A complete DWDM system has a number of critical components.
The key materials in this programme are organic second order nonlinear optical materials
Our research partners are the University of Otago and the University of Auckland.