N112-125 TITLE: Fiber Optic Refractive Index Matching Material

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Materials/Processes, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-265, F/A-18 Hornet Strike Fighter

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports):  This topic is "ITAR Restricted."  The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data.  Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a fiber optic refractive index matching material for use in aerospace platform fiber optic mechanical splices that has a long shelf life and enables a durable and ultra-low optical loss fiber optic mechanical splice.

DESCRIPTION: Fiber optic mechanical splice loss performance typically ranges between 0.1 dB and 1 dB depending on fiber optic cleave quality, splice alignment tolerances, and index matching material environmental performance. Curable fiber optic index matching material used to secure and index match fiber optic cores in mechanical splices has limited shelf life at both room and elevated temperatures. Shelf life is particularly problematic in applications where no refrigeration or humidity control is available during shipping and storage of the curable index matching material prior to splicing. High power optical signals running through fiber optic mechanical splices can result in ignition of refractive index matching material. Significant index matching material optical, environmental and shelf life improvements are needed for mechanical splicing onboard military aerospace platforms. New index matching materials are needed to improve the shelf life performance of mechanical splices based on light cured index matching materials.

PHASE I: Model and simulate index matching material design. Demonstrate feasibility of the design for low-optical loss and wide operating temperature fiber optic mechanical splices operating at 850 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths. Demonstrate long shelf life refractive index matching materials via accelerated aging/highly accelerated life testing and mechanical splicing. Deliver uncured index matching material for additional testing.

PHASE II: Optimize refractive index matching materials for use in mechanical splices. Design, build and test mechanical splices based on the proposed index matching material. Build and test mechanical splices based on new index matching material and test the performance of the splices per established fiber optic splice qualification test regimen. Deliver ten prototype fiber optic splices for testing. Deliver representative uncured index matching material field kits.

PHASE III: Transition technology to appropriate platforms and production.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The medical, industrial welding and telecommunications industry would benefit from better splices.

REFERENCES:
1. MIL-PRF-24623/7. Splice, Fiber Optic Cable General Specification for (Metric). http://www.dscc.dla.mil/Programs/MilSpec/listdocs.asp?BasicDoc=MIL-PRF-24623

2. Ogushi, I., et al. (2006). Observation of ignition induced by a high power light input at a butt-joint splice with refractive index matching material. Optical Fiber Communication Conference, 2006 and the 2006 National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference. DOI: 10.1109/OFC.2006.216002.

3. Rhodes, K.T. (2001) Adhesives deliver low-shrink low-stress bonds and fast UV cure. Proceedings of SPIE, 4198, pp. 31-46. DOI: 10.1117/12.417332

KEYWORDS: Fiber Optic Splice; Refractive Index Matching; Shelf Life; Low Optical Loss; Low Toxicity; Environmental Stability

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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