PFI:AIR - TT: Robust Multimaterial Chalcogenide Infrared Optical Fibers

该PFI：空气技术转换项目专注于将多材料光纤制造方面的进展转化为能够在中红外(MIR)波长传输光的机械稳定光纤的生产，而商业上可用的光纤选择有限。由于半导体量子级联激光器的发展，电磁光谱的MIR范围最近变得可用，这在化学传感、环境监测和医学成像方面开辟了令人兴奋的应用。然而，要充分利用这些传感、监测和成像机会，需要开发覆盖整个MIR频谱、价格实惠、坚固耐用且易于操作的光纤。该项目通过利用美国国家科学基金会资助的多材料纤维制造方面的最新基础发现来满足这一关键需求，在多材料纤维制造中，不同的材料被整体地组合在一根纤维束中。光纤的光学性能由易碎的MIR玻璃决定，而优异的机械性能来自坚固的内置聚合物护套。该项目将产生三种不同的光纤原型，并采用标准的终端连接器进行包装。与该市场领域领先的竞争对手MIR光纤相比，这里开发的单片多材料光纤将提供更宽的光谱传输窗口、更低的成本和卓越的机械坚固性，便于操作和操作。该项目从研究发现转化为商业应用，解决了坚固光纤的技术差距，这种光纤具有覆盖整个MIR光谱的透明窗口，其中芯的尺寸和芯和包层之间的折射率对比度可以很容易地控制。最近的突破被开发在一步多材料预制件挤出中，其中纤维预制件-纤维的宏观放大模型-从结合MIR硫系玻璃和热塑性聚合物的坯料中挤出。预制件具有厚厚的内置热塑性聚合物护套，该护套与玻璃热兼容，因此它们可以共拉成纤维。由于玻璃被密封在聚合物中，因此预制件很容易在环境中连续拉伸成延长的纤维长度。该项目将产生三种光纤原型：传输窗口延伸到12微米的多模光纤，传输波长高达6微米的单模光纤，以及用于非线性应用-特别是MIR超连续谱产生的高折射率对比度光纤锥形。所有三个原型都具有卓越的机械性能，并将与标准光纤连接器一起包装，以便于在现实世界中使用。这个项目结合了一名制造和测试的研究科学家以及一名MBA学生的市场分析工作。项目合作伙伴反过来又结合了技术和商业化专业知识，并将利用中佛罗里达大学独特的光纤制造设施以及企业孵化和风险加速器计划。此外，这项技术转化工作将受益于与IRFlex公司、中红外光纤设备公司的合作，以帮助从研究发现向商业现实的转变。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating advances in the fabrication of multimaterial fibers to the production of mechanically stable optical fibers capable of transmitting light at mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths for which limited commercially available optical-fiber options exist. The MIR range of the electromagnetic spectrum has recently become accessible (due to the development of semiconductor quantum cascade lasers) and this has opened up exciting applications in chemical sensing, environmental monitoring, and medical imaging. However, fully benefiting from these sensing, monitoring and imaging opportunities requires the development of optical fibers that cover the entire MIR spectrum, are affordable, robust, and easy to handle. This project addresses this critical need by leveraging recent NSF-funded fundamental discoveries in multimaterial fiber fabrication, where distinct materials are combined monolithically in a single fiber strand. The fiber's optical properties are dictated by an otherwise brittle MIR glass, while the superior mechanical properties stem from a robust built-in polymer jacket. The project will result in three distinct optical fiber prototypes packaged with standard end-connectors. When compared to the leading competing MIR fibers in this market space, the monolithic multimaterial optical fibers developed here will offer a broader optical spectral transmission window, lower cost, and superior mechanical robustness for ease of handling and manipulation.This project, as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application, addresses the technology gap in robust optical fibers that have a transparency window covering the entire MIR spectrum and in which the dimension of the core and the index contrast between the core and cladding may be readily controlled. Recent breakthroughs are exploited in one-step multimaterial preform extrusion in which a fiber preform - a macroscopic scaled up model of the fiber - is extruded from a billet combining MIR chalcogenide glasses and a thermoplastic polymer. The preform is provided with a thick, built-in thermoplastic polymer jacket that is thermally compatible with the glass and thus they may be co-drawn into a fiber. Since the glass is sealed within the polymer, the preform is readily drawn continuously in an ambient environment into extended fiber lengths. The project will result in three fiber prototypes: a multimode fiber with a transmission window extending to a wavelength of 12 microns, a single-mode fiber for transmitting up to a wavelength of 6 microns, and high-refractive-index-contrast fiber tapers for nonlinear applications - particularly MIR supercontinuum generation. All three prototypes are endowed with superior mechanical properties and will be packaged with standard optical fiber connectors to be readily used in real-world settings. This project combines the efforts of a research scientist for fabrication and testing along with an MBA student for market analysis. The project co-PIs in turn combine technical and commercialization expertise and will leverage both the unique fiber fabrication facilities at the University of Central Florida along with business incubation and venture accelerator programs. In addition, this technology translation effort will benefit from partnering with the IRFlex Corporation, The Mid-IR Fiber Devices Company, to assist with the transition from research discovery to commercial reality.