@article{RothRungEsenetal.2020, author = {Roth, Gian-Luca and Rung, Stefan and Esen, Cemal and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Microchannels inside bulk PMMA generated by femtosecond laser using adaptive beam shaping}, series = {Optics Express}, volume = {28}, journal = {Optics Express}, number = {4}, pages = {5801 -- 5811}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In this contribution, we report on the generation of internal microchannels with basically unlimited channel length inside of PMMA bulk material by femtosecond laser. A precisely controllable and stable circular channel cross section is obtained by using a spatial light modulator to compensate the writing depth depending spherical aberration. Furthermore, the generation of a rotatable elliptical input beam by adaptive optics ensures a fitting of the beam shaping to the writing direction. In this study, we report on both, the effect of the ellipticity of the input beam and the effect of a correction of the spherical aberration on the circularity of the resulting internal microchannels. Moreover, we demonstrate the application of this writing technique by creating microfluidic testing structures inside of a transparent standard polymer.}, subject = {Femtosekundenlaser}, language = {en} } @article{DudutisPipirasSchwarzetal.2020, author = {Dudutis, Juozas and Pipiras, Jokūbas and Schwarz, Simon and Rung, Stefan and Hellmann, Ralf and Račiukaitis, Gediminas and Gečys, Paulius}, title = {Laser-fabricated axicons challenging the conventional optics in glass processing applications}, series = {Optics Express}, volume = {28}, journal = {Optics Express}, number = {4}, pages = {5715 -- 5730}, year = {2020}, subject = {Laserbearbeitung}, language = {en} } @article{KeferSauerHessleretal.2020, author = {Kefer, Stefan and Sauer, Theresia and Hessler, Steffen and Kaloudis, Michael and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Microstructure-Based Fiber-to-Chip Coupling of Polymer Planar Bragg Gratings for Harsh Environment Applications}, series = {Sensors (Basel)}, volume = {20}, journal = {Sensors (Basel)}, number = {19}, doi = {10.3390/s20195452}, pages = {5452 -- 5452}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This article proposes and demonstrates a robust microstructure-based fiber-to-chip coupling scheme for planar Bragg grating devices. A polymer planar Bragg grating substrate is manufactured and microstructured by means of a micromilling process, while the respective photonic structures are generated by employing a sophisticated single-writing UV-exposure method. A stripped standard single mode fiber is inserted into the microstructure, which is filled with a UV-curable adhesive, and aligned with the integrated waveguide. After curing, final sensor assembly and thermal treatment, the proposed coupling scheme is capable of withstanding pressures up to 10 bar, at room temperature, and pressures up to 7.5 bar at an elevated temperature of 120 °C. Additionally, the coupling scheme is exceedingly robust towards tensile forces, limited only by the tensile strength of the employed single mode fiber. Due to its outstanding robustness, the coupling scheme enables the application of planar Bragg grating devices in harsh environments. This fact is underlined by integrating a microstructure-coupled photonic device into the center of a commercial-grade carbon fiber-reinforced polymer specimen. After its integration, the polymer-based Bragg grating sensor still exhibits a reflection peak with a dynamic range of 24 dB, and can thus be employed for sensing purposes.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchwarzRungEsenetal.2020, author = {Schwarz, Simon and Rung, Stefan and Esen, Cemal and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Current results on laser-based production of complex optics in glass}, series = {10. Wetzlarer Herbsttagung "Moderne Optikfertigung", 29. - 30. September 2020, Wetzlar}, booktitle = {10. Wetzlarer Herbsttagung "Moderne Optikfertigung", 29. - 30. September 2020, Wetzlar}, year = {2020}, subject = {Laserbearbeitung}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KeferRosenbergerHessleretal.2020, author = {Kefer, Stefan and Rosenberger, Manuel and Hessler, Steffen and Girschikofsky, Maiko and Belle, Stefan and Roth, Gian-Luca and Schmauß, Bernhard and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Fabrication and Applications of Polymer Planar Bragg Grating Sensors based on Cyclic Olefin Copolymers}, series = {2019 Photonics \& Electromagnetics Research Symposium - Fall (PIERS - Fall)}, booktitle = {2019 Photonics \& Electromagnetics Research Symposium - Fall (PIERS - Fall)}, publisher = {Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers}, isbn = {978-1-7281-5304-9}, doi = {10.1109/PIERS-Fall48861.2019.9021801}, pages = {647 -- 655}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This contribution reviews recent advancements, current research and possible applications of polymer planar Bragg grating (PPBG) sensors with a focus on the utilization of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) substrates. COC-PPBGs can be handled and fabricated efficiently by employing a single writing step procedure which features simultaneous generation of waveguide and Bragg grating structure within an injection molded substrate. The resulting photonic structures exhibit an attenuation as low as 1.2 dB cm-1 and a reflectivity up to 99 \%. The potential of COC-PPBGs for high-temperature applications is proven by demonstrating temperature measurements up to 160 °C. Moreover, it is possible to employ single PPBGs for multidimensional stress and strain sensing or even three-dimensional shape reconstruction. Due to their excellent properties, it is feasible to integrate COC-PPBGs into commercial-grade carbon fiber reinforced polymer workpieces for structural health monitoring. Furthermore, utilization of appropriate coatings enables functionalization of PPBGs for refractive index sensing and thus biochemical applications. Beside the fabrication and characterization of COC-based PPBGs, this contribution exemplifies and reviews such applications.}, subject = {Optischer Sensor}, language = {en} } @article{KeferSauerHessleretal.2020, author = {Kefer, Stefan and Sauer, Theresia and Hessler, Steffen and Kaloudis, Michael and Schmauß, Bernhard and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Robust Polymer Planar Bragg Grating Sensors Embedded in Commercial-Grade Composites}, series = {Polymers}, volume = {12}, journal = {Polymers}, number = {3}, doi = {10.3390/polym12030715}, pages = {715 -- 715}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This contribution demonstrates the functionality of polymer planar Bragg grating (PPBG) sensors integrated into commercial-grade carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) components. Multiple CFRP specimens are generated by curing a stack of pre-impregnated fibers inside of a heated mechanical press, exposing the polymer sensor to a pressure of 7 bar and a temperature of 120 °C for 2 h. After integration, the sensor still exhibits a strong and evaluable signal. Subsequent flexural experiments reveal a linear response of the integrated sensor's Bragg wavelength to the CFRP specimen's maximum deflection. Additional findings demonstrate that the embedded PPBG can be used to detect plastic deformations of a CFRP workpiece, whereas a linear correlation of plastic deformation to the resulting Bragg signal offset is determined. A plausibility check of the obtained results is delivered by a comparison of three-point flexural experiments on bulk CFRP workpieces, without integrated sensors and additional specimens featuring external optical sensors affixed to their surface. It is found that PPBGs based on cyclic olefin copolymers are able to overcome the temperature-related limitations of traditional polymer-based optical sensors and can thus be directly integrated into commercial-grade composites during production.}, subject = {Bragg-Reflektor}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RothEsenHellmann2020, author = {Roth, Gian-Luca and Esen, Cemal and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Internal micro structuring of transparent optical polymers by fs laser}, series = {Laser-based Micro-and Nanoprocessing XIV 2020}, volume = {11268}, booktitle = {Laser-based Micro-and Nanoprocessing XIV 2020}, publisher = {International Society for Optics and Photonics}, doi = {10.1117/12.2543487}, pages = {112681L}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Lab-on-chip systems are based on components to transport, mix, separate and analyse small volumes of different fluids. The consecutive integration of more complex functions into a single and compact chip demands on multilayer systems. As the classical production using a stacking and joining of single processed layers is elaborate and limited in terms of multilayer structures, an uprising trend to fabricate those devices is the internal, three dimensional processing of transparent substrates by using ultrashort laser pulses. In this study, we report on the generation of internal hollow architectures created by focused 514nm femtosecond laser pulses inside optical polymer bulk materials of different polymers. The three-dimensional channel layout is implemented by moving the sample using three-dimensional motorized stages, allowing arbitrary complex shaped internal channel architectures. Size and cross sectional shape of a single internal generated microchannel are determined by the intensity distribution of the focal voxel. In particular, we show a comprehensive parameter study to improve this laser process with respect to a higher processing speed and stability.}, subject = {Femtosekundenlaser}, language = {en} } @article{SchwarzRungEsenetal.2020, author = {Schwarz, Simon and Rung, Stefan and Esen, Cemal and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Rapid fabrication of precise glass axicon arrays by an all laser-based manufacturing technology}, series = {Journal of Laser Applications}, volume = {32}, journal = {Journal of Laser Applications}, number = {1}, pages = {012001 -- 012001}, year = {2020}, subject = {Femtosekundenlaser}, language = {en} } @article{RothHesslerKeferetal.2020, author = {Roth, Gian-Luca and Hessler, Steffen and Kefer, Stefan and Girschikofsky, Maiko and Esen, Cemal and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Femtosecond laser inscription of waveguides and Bragg gratings in transparent cyclic olefin copolymers}, series = {Optics Express}, volume = {28}, journal = {Optics Express}, number = {12}, doi = {10.1364/OE.388364}, pages = {18077 -- 18084}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We report on a femtosecond laser based fabrication technique that enables simultaneous single-step generation of optical waveguides and Bragg gratings inside bulk cyclic olefin copolymers. Due to the nonlinear absorption of focused and spatially modulated laser radiation with a wavelength of 514 nm and a pulse duration of 450 fs, a modification concluding a refractive index shift increase inside the substrate can be achieved. A sophisticated characterization of the generated waveguides by means of an elaborate cut-back method reveals a maximum attenuation of 3.2 dB/cm. Additionally, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer is used to examine the waveguide's refractive index profile. The integrated Bragg grating structures exhibit reflectivities up to 95 \% and a spectral full width at half maximum of 288 pm, at a Bragg wavelength of 1582 nm, whereas the grating period can be deliberately chosen by adapting the fabrication parameters. Thus, due to its increased flexibility and the resulting dispensability of cost-intensive phase masks, this method constitutes an especially promising fabrication process for polymer Bragg gratings inside of bulk materials.}, subject = {Femtosekundenlaser}, language = {en} } @article{RothHaubnerKeferetal.2020, author = {Roth, Gian-Luca and Haubner, Julian and Kefer, Stefan and Esen, Cemal and Hellmann, Ralf}, title = {Fs-laser based hybrid micromachining for polymer micro-opto electrical systems}, series = {Optics and Lasers in Engineering}, volume = {137}, journal = {Optics and Lasers in Engineering}, number = {10362}, doi = {10.1016/j.optlaseng.2020.106362}, pages = {1 -- 8}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We report on femtosecond laser direct writing of electrically conductive copper structures on transparent cyclic olefin copolymer based planar optical chips. The process is based on a laser-induced reduction of CuO nanoparticles dissolved in a water-soluble resin. Thus generated conductive copper structures are characterized with respect to their chemical composition and electrical resistivity. In addition, the application of ultrashort laser pulses enables a hybrid micromachining approach comprising ablation of polymer substrates and the fabrication of copper patterns in a single laser processing setup. A possible electro-optical application of this approach is demonstrated by employing the copper structures as an electro-thermal microheater in combination with a polymer planar optical Bragg grating sensor. This, in turn, highlights the potential of generating copious micro-opto-electro-mechanical polymer structures for numerous sensing applications ranging from Lab-on-Chip to environmental applications using the presented hybrid micromachining approach.}, subject = {Femtosekundenlaser}, language = {en} }