Novel elastomeric spiropyran-doped poly(dimethylsiloxane) optical waveguide for UV sensing.

Novel poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) doped with two different spiropyran derivatives (SP) were investigated as potential candidates for the preparation of elastomeric waveguides with UV-dependent optical properties. First, free-standing films were prepared and evaluated with respect to their photochromic response to UV irradiation. Kinetics, reversibility as well as photofatigue and refractive index of the SP-doped PDMS samples were assessed.

Optoelectronic Pressure Sensor Based on the Bending Loss of Plastic Optical Fibers Embedded in Stretchable Polydimethylsiloxane.

We report the design and testing of a sensor pad based on optical and flexible materials for the development of pressure monitoring devices. This project aims to create a flexible and low-cost pressure sensor based on a two-dimensional grid of plastic optical fibers embedded in a pad of flexible and stretchable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The opposite ends of each fiber are connected to an LED and a photodiode, respectively, to excite and measure light intensity changes due to the local bending of the pressure points on the PDMS pad.

Elimination of spatial hole burning in solid-state lasers using nanostructured thin films.

Multimode laser emission generally takes place in homogeneously broadened gain media placed inside a standing-wave resonator due to spatial hole burning. Solutions proposed to eliminate this phenomenon have so far involved the use of intracavity elements, such as an etalon, wave plates or saturable absorbers. We propose a monolithic solution, wherein birefringent layers of are deposited on both laser mirrors.