Next generation optical devices and processes require reliable, low-cost manufacturing technologies. Research at the Carleton Laboratory for Laser Induced Photonic Structures centres on the use of laser light to process glass and organic waveguide materials. The work of the research group focuses mostly on physical sensors for structural health monitoring and chemical sensors for the detection of toxic gases and biochemical species. This work is carried out in close collaboration with the department of Chemistry and with several industrial partners, especially LxSix Photonics.
CLLIPS also conducts joint research (funded by NSERC) under an agreement with the University of Arizona’s Optical Sciences Center. Specific projects involve waveguides in rare-earth doped glasses and fibre lasers using high gain phosphate glass fibres. CLIPPS is studying the formation of Bragg mirrors, which define the laser cavity of the optical fibre and have the effect of controlling the laser wavelength. Another multi-wavelength fibre laser project is carried out with funding from the Ontario Centers of Excellence in collaboration with Peleton Photonic Systems.
Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC)
Carleton University is a full partner in the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre, located at the National Research Council Canada’s main Ottawa campus. The centre draws on facilities and research expertise in photonic materials and devices at the NRC’s Institute for Microstructural Sciences (NRC-IMS). Carleton researchers have access to equipment, research activities, and incubation facilities for projects at a national level and in concert with photonics technology clusters within Canada. Projects involve silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and control of stress induced birefringence, where splitting of light in SOI waveguides improves component functionality in telecommunications systems. Other research covers very fast switching of optical signals in indium phospide devices to increase the ability to quickly reroute signals.