ABSTRACT
This chapter presents experimental demonstrations using optical fibers for Two-beam-writing Self-Organized Lightwave Network (SOLNET) (TB-SOLNET) and R-SOLNETs. It discusses several demonstrations of the R-SOLNET with luminescent targets. R-SOLNETs with reflective objects are demonstrated in the PRI sol-gel material developed by Nissan Chemical Industries. The coupling efficiency between the 50-µm optical fibers connected by R-SOLNETs with luminescent targets was measured for a gap distance of 300 µm. An R-SOLNET is formed by an incident write beam from the 50-μm optical fiber and a reflected write beam from the semitransparent Al mirror deposited on a glass substrate. R-SOLNET formation between a 50-μm optical fiber and an Al micromirror deposited on an optical fiber edge with angular misalignments is demonstrated using a setup. The TB-SOLNET keeps connecting the two optical fibers even after the left-hand-side optical fiber moves. The 50-µm optical fiber and the micromirror are placed with a gap distance of ∼800 µm in the monomer/monomer-type photopolymer.
