Direct UV-Written Integrated Optical Beam Combiner for Stellar Interferometry

Author

Olivero, Massimo ; Svalgaard, Mikael ; Jocou, Laurent ; Berger, Jean-Philippe

Volume

25

Issue

1

fYear

2007

Firstpage

367

Lastpage

371

Abstract

In this paper, we report the fabrication of an optical-beam combiner for stellar interferometry by means of direct ultraviolet (UV) writing. The component is shown to have good performance (fringe contrast > 95%, total loss ~0.7, -40-dB crosstalk, broadband operation covering at least the range 1.49-1.65 mum, and low differential chromatic dispersion). The overall performance exceeds that of similar components currently used for astronomical research. This result, combined with the fast-prototyping ability of UV writing, opens up new possibilities for the realization of highly optimized integrated-optical components for astronomical research

Keywords

astronomical techniques; integrated optics; light interferometry; optical beam splitters; optical fabrication; UV writing; chromatic dispersion; integrated optical beam combiner; stellar interferometry; Adaptive optics; Apertures; Optical attenuators; Optical beams; Optical crosstalk; Optical device fabrication; Optical devices; Optical interferometry; Telescopes; Writing; Astronomy; direct ultraviolet (UV) writing; optical interferometry; optical-device fabrication; optical-planar-waveguide components;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2006.886669

Filename

4137612