Catching light in its own trap

Monro, Tanya M.; Sterke, C. Martijn de; Poladian, L.

doi:10.1080/09500340108232456

Cited by 39 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…As shown in Fig. 2(a), the corresponding waveguide becomes broader away from the input face, developing "eyes" at the input, as is observed in photosensitive glass [2]. However these features are not observed in a resin.…”

mentioning

confidence: 73%

“…2(a-c). For comparison with the earlier studies [2,4], we first consider the case of zero threshold (I th = 0). As shown in Fig.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the accurate description of the polymerization process in resins should involve a solution of the kinetic equations (see, e.g., Ref. [6] for the case when the oxygen concentration is negligible), earlier studies indicate that acceptable results can be obtained by employing simpler phenomenological models [2]. Therefore, we modify the model introduced earlier [4] to account for the thresholdtype polymerization rate dependence on the light intensity, and define the temporal evolution of the refractive index change ∆n(r, z, τ ) as follows…”

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confidence: 99%

“…However, in order to "freeze" the soliton-induced waveguides, one should use photosensitive materials which experience long-lasting refractive index changes in response to illumination at specific wavelength [2]. The main question then is if the properties of such self-written waveguides are similar to the properties of spatial solitons.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[3], we should employ an appropriate model that describes the growth of self-written waveguides in a photosensitive optical material. Since the polymerization is a slow process compared to the optical beam propagation through a photosensitive medium, at any given time the light distribution can be described by a "stationary" wave equation for the electric field envelope [2,4]. Since the variation of the refractive index is small, the wave equation can be simplified by applying the paraxial approximation,…”

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confidence: 99%

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Self-written waveguides in photopolymerizable resins

et al. 2002

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We study the optically-induced growth and interaction of self-written waveguides in a photopolymerizable resin. We investigate experimentally how the interaction depends on the mutual coherence and relative power of the input beams, and suggest an improved analytical model that describes the growth of single self-written waveguides and the main features of their interaction in photosensitive materials.Optical self-action effects occur when the beam induces a refractive index change in the medium through which it propagates. Such effects are usually associated with the generation, propagation, and interaction of spatial optical solitons -the self-trapped optical beams that exist due to the balance between diffraction and nonlinearity [1].One of the important concepts that drive the research on optical solitons is their possible use as steerable selfinduced waveguides that can guide other beams of different polarization or wavelength. However, in order to "freeze" the soliton-induced waveguides, one should use photosensitive materials which experience long-lasting refractive index changes in response to illumination at specific wavelength [2]. The main question then is if the properties of such self-written waveguides are similar to the properties of spatial solitons. This is especially important for writing multiple waveguides and optical components, such as Y-and X-junctions, based on the intersection of two (or more) self-written waveguides.In this Letter we study, first experimentally and then theoretically, the optically-induced growth and interaction of self-written waveguides in photopolymerizable resins, and demonstrate both differences and similarities between the interaction of spatial solitons and selfwritten waveguides.As a photosensitive optical material, we use a photopolymerizable resin (PR) where single and multiple self-written waveguides ("fibers") can be grown by a onephoton absorption process [3]. First, we reproduce the experimental results on the growth of single waveguides earlier reported in Ref. [3], and then we study experimentally different regimes of interaction between two self-written waveguides. For the experiments, we use PR in the form of a liquid urethane acrylate photopolymer (SCR-500: Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd). The PR is filled in a glass cell and the beam is focused on the entrance face of the cell. The PR initial refractive index (before the illumination) is 1.53, which increases to 1.55 gradually with the photo-polymerization reaction. In order to study the beam collision, a light beam operated from a He-Cd laser (λ = 441.6 nm) is split into two beams, which are then focused onto the resin, simultaneously or with a delay.The optical axes of two beams intersect inside the PR so that the two waveguides growing simultaneously from the two beam spots collide with each other inside the photosensitive material. The polymerized structure is observed by a charge-coupled-device (CCD) camera from a side of the sample cell.Figure 1(a) shows that when two self-written waveguides c...

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confidence: 73%

“…2(a-c). For comparison with the earlier studies [2,4], we first consider the case of zero threshold (I th = 0). As shown in Fig.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Self-written waveguides in photopolymerizable resins

et al. 2002

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Micro‐scale Truss Structures formed from Self‐Propagating Photopolymer Waveguides

Jacobsen¹,

Barvosa-Carter²,

Nutt³

2007

Advanced Materials

152

116

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Materials with significant porosity, generally termed cellular solids, exhibit unique properties unachievable by their solid counterparts. These characteristics, which may include ultra-low density, high surface area per unit volume, and/or improved impact absorption, are greatly influenced by both the degree of open porosity and the physical arrangement of the solid material within the cellular structure. Ordered cellular structures generally exhibit superior stiffness and peak strength relative to random cellular configurations by changing the mode of deformation within the microstructure during elastic loading.[ [6] However, these techniques are not well suited for fabricating mesoscale structures [7] with feature sizes ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers. Here we present a new class of cellular structures formed from a three-dimensional interconnected pattern of self-propagating polymer waveguides. In contrast to existing lithographic techniques, [3][4][5][8][9][10][11] , this self-propagating effect enables the rapid formation (< 1 min) of thick (> 5 mm) three-dimensional open-cellular structures from a single two-dimensional exposure surface. The process also affords significant flexibility and control of the geometry and configuration of the resulting cellular structure, which in turn, provides control of the bulk physical and mechanical properties.A self-propagating polymer waveguide can be formed from a single point exposure of light in a suitable photomonomer and can yield a high-aspect-ratio polymer fiber (length/diameter > 100) in seconds with approximately constant cross-section over its entire length. [12,13] This self-propagating phenomenon is a result of a self-focusing effect caused by a change in the index of refraction between the liquid photomonomer and solid polymer during the polymerization reaction. [12][13][14] Upon exposure of light in the appropriate wavelength range -typically UV for most photosensitive monomers -polymerization begins at the point of exposure and the subsequent incident light is trapped in the polymer because of internal reflection, as in optical fibers. This self-trapping effect tunnels the light towards the far end of the already-formed polymer, further propagating the polymerization front within the liquid monomer.[15] The diameter of the waveguide is dependent on the exposed area, and the length is primarily dependent on the incident energy of the light and the photo-absorption properties of the polymer. [16] Eventually, the polymer itself will absorb enough light in the critical wavelength range to terminate waveguide propagation. Previous studies on waveguide formation utilized a fiber optic, lens apparatus, or focusing mask to create a point source of light which initiated the formation of the self-propagating polymer fiber through the monomer. [12][13][14][15][16] However, asshown in the present work, this effect can be achieved using a broad spectrum collimated light source (generated from a mercury arc lamp) directed through a mask with a simple circu...

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3D Nonlinear Inscription of Complex Microcomponents (3D NSCRIPT): Printing Functional Dielectric and Metallodielectric Polymer Structures with Nonlinear Waves of Blue LED Light

Basker

Cortes

Brook

et al. 2017

Adv Materials Technologies

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A nonclassical 3D‐printing technique, 3D NSCRIPT, which employs nonlinear blue waves from light emitting diodes (LEDs) is introduced. This technique generates micro‐ and macroscopic dielectric and metallodielectric structures with seamless depths, which would be challenging to fabricate through conventional 3D printing techniques. 3D NSCRIPT exploits divergence‐free, nonlinear self‐trapped beams elicited during epoxide polymerization to inscribe 3D structures; by embedding patterns in and varying the diameter of nonlinear beams, it is possible to control respectively the geometry and dimensions of the resulting structures. By exploiting the interactions of nonlinear beams, it is moreover possible to configure additional structural complexity. Furthermore, by coupling epoxide polymerization with the simultaneous reduction of gold salts, it is possible to generate 3D structures containing a homogeneous dispersion of Au nanoparticles. To demonstrate the versatility of this technique, various 3D components of the da Vinci catapult were fabricated and assembled into a miniature working device.

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Catching light in its own trap

Cited by 39 publications

References 51 publications

Self-written waveguides in photopolymerizable resins

Self-written waveguides in photopolymerizable resins

Micro‐scale Truss Structures formed from Self‐Propagating Photopolymer Waveguides

3D Nonlinear Inscription of Complex Microcomponents (3D NSCRIPT): Printing Functional Dielectric and Metallodielectric Polymer Structures with Nonlinear Waves of Blue LED Light

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