Nanoparticle Resettable Optical Fuse for Network Protection Developed by KiloLambda Scientists

Fiber lasers, fiber optics for communication systems, and other systems for light delivery, such as in medical, industrial and remote sensing applications, often handle high levels of optical power, namely, up to several Watts in a single fiber or waveguide. When these high intensities or power per unit area are introduced into the systems, many thin film coatings, optical adhesives, bulk materials and detectors, are exposed to light fluxes beyond their damage thresholds and are eventually damaged.  Over power conditions can cause major link malfunctions in optical networks and become am eye safety issue as well.

Another issue of concern in such high-power systems is laser safety, where well-defined upper limits are established for powers emitted from fibers. These two difficulties call for a passive device that will switch off the power propagating in a fiber or waveguide, when the power exceeds the allowed intensity. Such a switching device should be placed either at the input of a sensitive optical device, or at the output of a high-power device such as a laser or an optical amplifier, or integrated within an optical device.

Better, automatically resettable, passive devices are needed. Scientists at KiloLambda,   an optical nanotechnology company in the early stages of market development, have developed such a solution.

KiloLambda CEO Doron Nevo, systems engineer Ram Oron, Dr. Ariela Donval,  Boaz Nemet, and  Chief Scientist Moshe Oron have created  a resettable optical energy switching device comprised of a waveguide forming an optical path between an input end and an output end, and an optical energy diverting material located in the optical path for diverting optical energy propagation away from the output end when the optical energy exceeds a predetermined threshold.

According to U.S. Patent Application 20100061680, the optical energy diverting material does not divert optical energy propagation away from the output end when the optical energy propagation drops below the predetermined threshold, and thus propagation of optical energy to the output end is automatically resumed when the optical energy drops below the predetermined threshold. In one implementation, the optical energy diverting material comprises a light-absorbing material having an index of refraction that decreases as light is absorbed by the material. The absorbing particles in the material are nanoparticles consisting of Ag, Au, Ni, Va, Ti, Co, Cr, C, Re, Si and mixtures of them

The nano-structure material heats up when exposed to optical signals propagating within the optical waveguide with an optical power level above a predetermined threshold, the change in temperature causes a change dn/dT in the index of refraction of the nano-structure, creating total internal reflection and thus deviation of the light propagating within the optical waveguide so as to prevent the transmission of such light to the output

The light-absorbing nano-structure can use light-absorbing nano particles dispersed in a transparent matrix such as a monomer, which is subsequently polymerized. There are several techniques for preparing such dispersions, such as with the use of dispersion and deflocculation agents added to the monomer mix.

The mission of KiloLambda, founded in 2001, is to develop and provide optical power control solutions based on innovative and unique nano-materials and nano-structures.  KiloLambda considers its optical power control technology to be the main source of its future business success. While pursuing its goals regarding the core power control technology, KiloLambda is engaging in immediate revenue generating activities, based on the company's peripheral technological achievements.

Today these activities include development of Optical Proximity Sensors and High Energy Lasers for defense applications. Revenues from these activities will support KiloLambda's main effort regarding its core technology in face of diverse possible conditions of capital and product markets.

KiloLambda Technologies, Ltd.
22a Raoul Wallenberg St.
Zamir House, 2nd floor
Ramat-Hachayal Industrial Park
P.O.Box 58089,
Tel-Aviv 61580, Israel
Tel: +972 3 6497662
info@kilolambda.com

http://www.kilolambda.com/

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KiloLambda, Inc.
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