1.In-fiber Integrated Optic Devices

One of our research directions is index-guided microstructured fibers. The fabrication technology similar to the conventional silica based optical fibers, but multi cores are rearranged and embedded in one cladding. Based on this kind microstructured fiber, the in-fiber integrated optic devices and functional fiber optic sensors could be designed and developed. The objective of in-fiber integrated optic devices is to develop fiber based integrated micro-scale optic devices. The fundamental issues are how to integrate several basic optical components inside in one fiber? How to implement the link between microstructured fibers based optical components and standard single mode fiber? How to control the light flow of each channel inside in one fiber cladding? And How to develop the functions and applications of in-fiber integrated interferometers?

The advantages of in-fiber integrated optics devices, similar to the integrated optics, are their compactness and stability, easy linkage with standards single mode fibers, and packaging compatibility with the current fiber optic components.

2.Fiber Optic Sensors & its Application

Fiber optic white light interferometric sensor is one of the most exciting technologies in the field of optical fiber sensors and appears to be ideally suited for structural health monitoring of composite materials and civil engineering applications. In this research direction, we are devoted   fiber optic sensors design, multiplexing and loop topology based network techniques by utilizing advanced white light interferometric knowledge to meet the requirement of large-scale structural monitoring. What we focus on are：(1) How to create an interferometer system for white light interferometric fiber optic sensors interrogating? (2) How to calibrate and predict the embedded fiber optic sensors performance? (3) How to build a fiber optic sensors array on a single fiber by low coherence multiplexing techniques? (4) How to configure a loop topology based fiber optic sensors local network by white light interferometer for large-scale smart materials and structures health monitoring?

3.Fiber Optic Tweezers and Micro Optical Hand Technology

The aim of the current study in this research direction is to investigate and develop a practical and easy operated fiber optic tweezers for simplify manipulation of small particle, for the assembly of microstructures and for conducting advanced research on cells, viruses, bacterias and DNA molecules. (OE, 2006, 14(25), 12510-12516; 2008,16(7), 4551-4558).

Recently, we have developed multi-core fiber and annular-core fiber based “micro optical hand”, not only trapped the small particle, but also could change the orientation and coordinating state of the trapped particle. Its manipulation functionality has been greatly expended and towards the human’s hand. (China Patent, No. 201010197496.8; JLT, 2012, 30: 1487-1491).

4.Ultra-high Precision Optic Measurement Instrumentation

This research direction are focus on the detection signals processing of fiber optic related sensing or measuring and integration of software and hardware such as electronics circuits unit, mechanical moving unit as well as system control and display unit. It is include (1) embedded single chip micro controller system; (2) DSP and FPGA technology applications and (3) LabVIEW software based system control, data acquisition, data processing and display program. For example, an OCDP based fiber optic Gyroscope testing and diagnostics system has been developed for Integrated Waveguides Modulator/Demodulator (Y type waveguide) testing and fiber coil evaluation. The specifications are as follows:

5.Microstructured Optical Fiber Fabrication System

The way of manufacturing the index-guided microstructured optical fibers involves three main steps: (1) optical fiber perform preparing by MCVD; (2) reform the optical fiber performs and reconstruction of the microstructured optical fiber perform according to the specificdesign; and (3) draw optical fiber at the drawing tower. The main facilities include: (1) MCVD fiber perform manufacturing equipment; (2) optical fiber drawing tower.

6.Laser Machining System

The main facilities in this research direction include (1) Laser machining system working at 157nm for silica and glass micro scale machining; (2) FK eximer laser based fiber Bragg grating manufacturing system; (3) CO2 laser based long period grating fabrication system; and (4) Fiber Bragg grating sensors demodulation system.