Rapid prototyping of integrated sol-gel devices for astronomical interferometry

A. Ghasempour; D. Alexandre; C. Brites; P. J. Moreira; F. Reynaud; P. V. S. Marques; A. M. P. Leite; P. J. V. Garcia

doi:10.1117/12.788845

28 July 2008 Rapid prototyping of integrated sol-gel devices for astronomical interferometry

A. Ghasempour, D. Alexandre, C. Brites, P. J. Moreira, F. Reynaud, P. V. S. Marques, A. M. P. Leite, P. J. V. Garcia

Proceedings Volume 7013, Optical and Infrared Interferometry; 701317 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788845
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

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 μm laser diode and with an SLD ( λ₀ = 1.26 μm, FWHM of 60 nm). High contrast fringes were produced with 1.3 μm 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.

Citation Download Citation

A. Ghasempour, D. Alexandre, C. Brites, P. J. Moreira, F. Reynaud, P. V. S. Marques, A. M. P. Leite, and P. J. V. Garcia "Rapid prototyping of integrated sol-gel devices for astronomical interferometry", Proc. SPIE 7013, Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 701317 (28 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788845

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available