Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FUNGLASS (FUNctional GLASS)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-01-01 al 2024-03-31
FUNGLASS integration in photonic devices and components addresses one of the most crucial challenges in research and innovation which lies in the design and manufacturing of optical components and systems. Among the materials used in photonic devices, glasses play a central role: they are used as laser sources, lenses, smart screen, optical fibers and specialty fibers to name a few. FUNGLASS breakthrough relies on the control of nano/micro processing and 3D printing of glass by laser writing or poling, offering extraordinary opportunities for fabrication of elementary building-blocks such as multimaterial optical fibers with unique topology, morphology and novel properties for the design of integrated multifunctional components and devices.
FUNGLASS proposes interdisciplinary European scale staff exchange programme with unique positioning on laser/field 3D nano/micro patterning and functionalizing of novel photonic glass materials allowing fabrication of sophisticated components and systems on their own. The involvement of large international centers with state of the art facilities for developing photonics components enables provision of the required skills for developing a career in the private sector, as an entrepreneur, a CEO, a chief of R&D department etc. The involvement of international experienced and recognized professors, experienced researchers, involved in the project also ensures that early stage researchers are prepared for a career in research excellence. Moreover, the strong lasting links between those centers allow the popup for an unpreceded international network in photonics and material. This project, now ended, is still contributing to sustain this network by the creation of joint unit laboratory between participants.
FUNGLASS proposes interdisciplinary European scale staff exchange programme with unique positioning on laser/field 3D nano/micro patterning and functionalizing of novel photonic glass materials allowing fabrication of sophisticated components and systems on their own. The involvement of large international centers with state of the art facilities for developing photonics components enables provision of the required skills for developing a career in the private sector, as an entrepreneur, a CEO, a chief of R&D department etc. The involvement of international experienced and recognized professors, experienced researchers, involved in the project also ensures that early stage researchers are prepared for a career in research excellence. Moreover, the strong lasting links between those centers allow the popup for an unpreceded international network in photonics and material. This project, now ended, is still contributing to sustain this network by the creation of joint unit laboratory between participants.
Since the beginning of the project, a significant amount of work has been carried out in the different WPs. This can be broken down as follows:
WP2:
• Optical glass material synthesis and physical characterization of new bulk glasses have been done: silver- containing sodium-gallium phosphate glasses; Link between, local structure and laser micro structing sensitivity.
• Optimization of Silver containing phosphate glasses for Xrays dosimetry application. Germanium (BGG glasses) , purification and optimization for mid IR integrated optical components fabrication.
• GeO2-B2O3-Na2O-BaO-TR2O3 in fiber and bulk for Magneto optic effect
• Since 2019, two drawing towers station ( Bordeaux and Quebec) are available for specialty optical fibers design. New fibers for extended IR transmission window and embedded metallic electrode ( Glasses/metallic electrode) Tellures (ex: TeO2-ZnO-Na2O-Ag2O) Gallates (ex: Ga2O3-GeO2-K2O-BaO) have been demonstrated. Specific targeted properties: Non-linearity, supercontinuum Electro-optics.
• On the advance fabrication methods: Direct 3D-printers for phosphate and chalcogenide glasses by Fused Deposition has been implemented in Bordeaux and Laval.
WP3:
• In the University of Bordeaux, Friedrich Schiller University Jena and University Laval in Quebec, we have femtosecond laser inscription experiments with complementary sources and specifications. In Bordeaux and UNESP, surface texturing tools using plasma structured electrodes are available. These experiments have been used successfully for glass micro/nano functionalization of many samples of WP2.
• Concerning the characterization, of refractive index at microscopic scale, a time-resolved spatial phase measurement experiment has been developed in Bordeaux.
• A work on phase masks for the parallelized inscription of IR transparent glasses has been carried out (Jena/Quebec)
• The development of a unique experiment allowing laser inscription along an optical fiber has been achieved (Bordeaux/Quebec).
• Concerning plasma texturing, systems with non-planar electrodes to pole fiber surfaces has been developped.
WP4:
The tasks of this WP allowed the following achievements.
• We have developed hollow fibers filled with liquid crystals for sensing applications. Intermediate results have been obtained.
• The ability to write on waveguide surfaces by laser inscription allowed us to demonstrate as preliminary results a refractive index sensor.
• A work on the optimization of the writing masks allowed us to realize a volume Bragg grating operating in mid IR.
WP2:
• Optical glass material synthesis and physical characterization of new bulk glasses have been done: silver- containing sodium-gallium phosphate glasses; Link between, local structure and laser micro structing sensitivity.
• Optimization of Silver containing phosphate glasses for Xrays dosimetry application. Germanium (BGG glasses) , purification and optimization for mid IR integrated optical components fabrication.
• GeO2-B2O3-Na2O-BaO-TR2O3 in fiber and bulk for Magneto optic effect
• Since 2019, two drawing towers station ( Bordeaux and Quebec) are available for specialty optical fibers design. New fibers for extended IR transmission window and embedded metallic electrode ( Glasses/metallic electrode) Tellures (ex: TeO2-ZnO-Na2O-Ag2O) Gallates (ex: Ga2O3-GeO2-K2O-BaO) have been demonstrated. Specific targeted properties: Non-linearity, supercontinuum Electro-optics.
• On the advance fabrication methods: Direct 3D-printers for phosphate and chalcogenide glasses by Fused Deposition has been implemented in Bordeaux and Laval.
WP3:
• In the University of Bordeaux, Friedrich Schiller University Jena and University Laval in Quebec, we have femtosecond laser inscription experiments with complementary sources and specifications. In Bordeaux and UNESP, surface texturing tools using plasma structured electrodes are available. These experiments have been used successfully for glass micro/nano functionalization of many samples of WP2.
• Concerning the characterization, of refractive index at microscopic scale, a time-resolved spatial phase measurement experiment has been developed in Bordeaux.
• A work on phase masks for the parallelized inscription of IR transparent glasses has been carried out (Jena/Quebec)
• The development of a unique experiment allowing laser inscription along an optical fiber has been achieved (Bordeaux/Quebec).
• Concerning plasma texturing, systems with non-planar electrodes to pole fiber surfaces has been developped.
WP4:
The tasks of this WP allowed the following achievements.
• We have developed hollow fibers filled with liquid crystals for sensing applications. Intermediate results have been obtained.
• The ability to write on waveguide surfaces by laser inscription allowed us to demonstrate as preliminary results a refractive index sensor.
• A work on the optimization of the writing masks allowed us to realize a volume Bragg grating operating in mid IR.
Four publications have highlighted advances beyond the state of the art in the project. In particular :
1. A world premiere with the development of a 3D optical glass printing station.
2. The development of special glasses allowing laser inscription at the surface. This is a major breakthrough because until now, laser processes could be realize only in volume (surface ablation issue). This allows us to manufacture surface sensors by laser.
3. Fabrication by mask and femtoseconde laser of " Volume Bragg Grating ", VBG in IR glasses.
4. Fabrication of couplers and splitter by wavguide engineering in new glasses for IR by direct laser inscription.
The deliverables that appear to have a shorter-term socioeconomic impact are:
• For VBG, a) reliable integrated component as a functional element for IR laser sources.
• b) Inscription of Bragg in IR fibers for the same applications.
• Surface writing: manufacturing of an IR spectrometer in integrated optics.
1. A world premiere with the development of a 3D optical glass printing station.
2. The development of special glasses allowing laser inscription at the surface. This is a major breakthrough because until now, laser processes could be realize only in volume (surface ablation issue). This allows us to manufacture surface sensors by laser.
3. Fabrication by mask and femtoseconde laser of " Volume Bragg Grating ", VBG in IR glasses.
4. Fabrication of couplers and splitter by wavguide engineering in new glasses for IR by direct laser inscription.
The deliverables that appear to have a shorter-term socioeconomic impact are:
• For VBG, a) reliable integrated component as a functional element for IR laser sources.
• b) Inscription of Bragg in IR fibers for the same applications.
• Surface writing: manufacturing of an IR spectrometer in integrated optics.