InP high power monolithically integrated widely tunable laser and SOA array for hybrid integration.

We present a monolithic InP-based photonic integrated circuit (PIC) consisting of a widely tunable laser master oscillator feeding an array of integrated semiconductor optical amplifiers that are interferometrically combined on-chip in a single-mode waveguide. We demonstrate a stable and efficient on-chip coherent beam combination and obtain up to 240 mW average power from the monolithic PIC, with 30-50 kHz Schawlow-Townes linewidths and >180 mW average power across the extended C-band. We also explored hybrid integration of the InP-based laser and amplifier array PIC with a high quality factor silicon nitride microring resonator.

Adjustable adaptive compact fluidic phoropter with no mechanical translation of lenses.

We demonstrate a compact optical phoroptor consisting of adjustable astigmatic and defocus lenses. The lenses are fluidically controlled and allow for an arbitrary refractive error to be corrected without mechanically moving lenses. Shack-Hartmann measurements were used to characterize the optical properties of the individual lenses.

Tunable-focus flat liquid-crystal diffractive lens.

We demonstrate an innovative variable-focus flat liquid-crystal diffractive lens (LCDL) with 95% diffraction efficiency and millisecond switching times using a +/-2.4 V ac input. This lens is based on the electrical modulation of a 3 mum layer of nematic liquid-crystal sandwiched between a Fresnel zone electrode structure and a reference substrate.

Astigmatism and defocus wavefront correction via Zernike modes produced with fluidic lenses.

Fluidic lenses have been developed for ophthalmic applications with continuously varying optical powers for second order Zernike modes. Continuously varying corrections for both myopic and hyperopic defocus have been demonstrated over a range of three diopters using a fluidic lens with a circular retaining aperture. Likewise, a six diopter range of astigmatism has been continuously corrected using fluidic lenses with rectangular apertures.

Adjustable fluidic lenses for ophthalmic corrections.

We report on two fluidic lenses that have been developed for ophthalmic applications. The lenses use a circular aperture to demonstrate optical powers between -20 and +20 D and a rectangular aperture to demonstrate astigmatism with values ranging from 0 to 8 D. Measurements of image quality were made with the fluidic lens using a model eye.

Analog CMOS design for optical coherence tomography signal detection and processing.

A CMOS circuit was designed and fabricated for optical coherence tomography (OCT) signal detection and processing. The circuit includes a photoreceiver, differential gain stage and lock-in amplifier based demodulator. The photoreceiver consists of a CMOS photodetector and low noise differential transimpedance amplifier which converts the optical interference signal into a voltage.

Transfection of cells attached to selected cell based biosensor surfaces.

Mammalian cell attachment studies were conducted on a variety of common microchip surfaces for potential use in cell based biosensors. COS-7 cell attachment to Au, Pt or ITO, per unit area was greater than to SiO(2) surfaces. The number of cells that would attach was essentially maximized 3 h after cell seeding.

Switchable electro-optic diffractive lens with high efficiency for ophthalmic applications.

Presbyopia is an age-related loss of accommodation of the human eye that manifests itself as inability to shift focus from distant to near objects. Assuming no refractive error, presbyopes have clear vision of distant objects; they require reading glasses for viewing near objects. Area-divided bifocal lenses are one example of a treatment for this problem.

Analog CMOS circuit design and characterization for optical coherence tomography signal processing.

We have developed a custom analog CMOS circuit to perform the signal processing for an optical coherence tomography imaging system. The circuit is realized in a 1.5 microm low-noise analog CMOS technology.

Design and processing of high-density single-mode fiber arrays for imaging and parallel interferometer applications.

The design and fabrication procedures for implementing a high-density (16-microm center spacing) single-mode fiber (SMF) array are described. The specific application for this array is a parallel optical coherence tomography system for endoscopic imaging. We obtained fiber elements by etching standard single-mode SMF-28 fibers to a diameter of 14-15 microm.