Photonic Component Reliability Group

Department of Materials Science & Engineering
607 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8065, USA
Tel: (848) 445-5933
E-mail: mjohnm@fracture.rutgers.edu,

Mechanical reliability of optical fiber and fiber components is an area of great current interest. However, because of the rapid pace of the industry, companies often do not have the time or resources to establish in-house research programs on reliability. We are therefore currently in the process of establishing a center for Photonic Component Reliability at Rutgers University. This will be a University/Industry collaboration to perform research in areas of mutual interest, using the state-of-the-art facilities at Rutgers. It is envisioned that center members would pay an annual fee of $5000 per participating location. Annual meetings will be held at which the center staff and members can propose projects. The projects to be funded will be agreed upon after consultation with the center members.

We will work with sponsors on research problems of both short- and long-term interest. Anticipated areas of activity might include:

• lifetime prediction methods
• fiber reliability: fatigue, aging, strength
• connectors, splices, packaging
• coatings: polymer, high temperature, hermetic, metallization, etc.
• active and passive device reliability: couplers, Bragg gratings, etc.
• computer modeling
• development of testing, analysis and reporting methods
• glass processing issues

Areas of Expertise of Center Staff:

• John Matthewson: mechanics, modeling, testing techniques, chemical kinetics
• Chuck Kurkjian: glass science, processing, strength, hermetic coatings
• John Krause: splicing, metallization, strength and fatigue

Benefits for Center Members:

• ability to have research performed for low cost by pooling resources
• immediate access to the results of the collaborative research
• forum for exchange of views, concerns, information
• access to center staff expertise
• provide a route for closer collaboration with the University
• potential hiring of students with fiber and component reliability expertise
• potential for direct interaction between center staff and sponsor personnel

The center has extensive equipment for mechanical characterization of fibers and fiber components. This includes static and dynamic fatigue testing in both tension and flexure, proof testing, aging in controlled environments, etc.. In addition, we have access to other equipment in the Department of Ceramics and Materials Engineering, including preform fabrication, fiber drawing for both oxide and non-oxide glasses, SEM with analytical capabilities, AFM, optical microscopy.

Anyone interested in this program or who has comments or suggestions, please contact

John Matthewson (mjohnm@fracture.rutgers.edu)

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