System and method of fabricating low-loss and low-noise waveguides for visible wavelength applications
AssigneeUnited States Department of Energy
InventorsBenjamin T. Chorpening, Michael P. Buric, Juddha Thapa
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Abstract
One or more embodiments relates to a system for producing a waveguide, a method of making a waveguide and a waveguide having low surface roughness, adapted to minimize loss and noise while producing a circular beam that can be used in the visible or short-wave spectral regime. The waveguide includes a glass capillary tube having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a hollow core; a metal layer deposited on at least the inner surface; and a polymer layer overcoat deposited on at least the metal layer and in fluid communication with the hollow core.
Claims20
A waveguide having low surface roughness, adapted to minimize loss and noise while producing a circular beam that can be used in the visible or short-wave spectral regime, the waveguide comprising:
- a glass capillary tube having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a hollow core;
- a metal layer deposited on at least the inner surface;
- and
- a polymer layer overcoat deposited on at least the metal layer and in fluid communication with the hollow core.
A system for forming a waveguide having low surface roughness which is adapted to minimize loss and noise while producing a circular beam that can be used in the visible or short-wave spectral regime, the system comprising:
- a constant temperature water bath adapted to receive one or more hollow glass capillary tubes and reduce the temperature of the one or more glass capillary tubes to about 10° C.-15° C.;
- at least one bypass/crossover valve in fluid communication with the constant temperature water bath;
- a first high-pressure syringe pump in fluid communication with the at least one bypass/crossover valve and a first reservoir containing a Tollens solution;
- and
- a second high-pressure syringe pump in fluid communication with the at least one bypass/crossover valve and a second reservoir containing a reducer solution.
A method for forming a waveguide having low surface roughness which is adapted to minimize loss and noise while producing a circular beam that can be used in the visible or short-wave spectral regime, the method comprising:
- reducing and controlling the temperature of one or more glass capillary tubes to about 10° C.-15° C.;
- cleaning and treating at least an interior of the one or more glass capillary tubes;
- activating the interior of the one or more glass capillary tubes;
- and
- adhering a silver metal to the interior of the one or more glass capillary tubes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.