Reflective self-organizing lightwave network using a phosphor

Abstract

Self-organization of optical waveguides that connect two optical devices automatically through a reflective self-organized lightwave network (R-SOLNET) using a phosphor was simulated by the finite difference time domain method. The simulation showed that a R-SOLNET is constructed between a waveguide with a core width of 1.2 μm and a phosphor target, which is located a distance of 6.4 μm from the waveguide edge and guides the probe beam to the phosphor target. The optical coupling efficiency was 95% when the waveguide and phosphor target were fully aligned. Even when the misalignment was 800 nm, a coupling efficiency of 60% was obtained. The coupling efficiency for the SOLNET without the phosphor target was 16%. In addition, experiments to confirm the principle of a R-SOLNET using a phosphor were performed with an optical fiber and tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum (Alq 3 ) phosphor target. The experiments revealed that the write beam is propagated toward the Alq 3 target, and consequently, a R-SOLNET connecting the fiber edge and Alq 3 target is formed to guide probe beams to the target. The R-SOLNET expanded from the diameter of the fiber core to the width of the Alq 3 target.