The paper explores some lessons for third-level electronic engineering education based on the experience of an engineer who has migrated from electrical and electronic engineering into telecommunications. An introduction in telecommunications began in Queens University of Belfast B.Eng studies. A PhD course in the Optoelectronics Department of Strathclyde University followed investigating novel methods of equalising the output of erbium-doped fibre devices. The experience and technical knowledge gained helped obtain employment at Kymata Limited working in R&D. This career path may be typical of a new generation of electronics engineers. The first part of the paper explores the limitations and advantages of professional development outside of a planned educational programme in telecommunications. The second part of the paper describes the excellent optics R&D development base of Scottish Universities that offer a model perhaps for Ireland and the rest of the world. In this competitive age the time taken to bring a device to production specifications can be critical to the on-going survival of small companies. The paper ends by attempting to tie together a number of strands in an overview that may help develop the ongoing debate into the evolution of electronic engineering in third level education.
The increasing demand for bandwidth is driving the development of new paradigms within the fibre optic telecomms industry and leading to the generation of a new range of optical components. One route being taken is the hybridization of discrete components into a single package to realize high functionality subsystems. The combination of MEMS with light guide technology is one hybridization pathway that is showing considerable potential. In the drive for novel functionality it is paramount that the performance parameters are not compromised, nor should the hybridization of discrete components lead to increased manufacturing and packaging complexity and reliability issues. A theoretical and experimental study of integration schemes has shown that it is possible to integrate MEMS components with light guide technologies using just simple air gaps while preserving key performance parameters.
We demonstrate a novel method for equalising the spectra of erbium doped superfluorescent fibre sources in the double-pass forward configuration. The equalising technique uses novel single-mode fibre to planar waveguide filters in a double-pass forward superfluorescent source to smooth the output spectrum. The insertion loss of the filter device used in this paper is <0.9dB but insertion losses of 0.2dB are typical. The unfiattened double-pass forward superfluorescent source with 108.5mW pump power has an output power of <30mW, 44.2% of the quantum efficiency and a 3dB linewidth of 5.43nm. The equalised DPF SFS with 108.5mW pump power has an output <30mW, 44.85% of the quantum efficiency, a 3dB linewidth of 31.26mn with a small ~0.936dB ripple. The overall gain flattened spectral density is increased from 468.6μW/nm to 887.8?W/um in the lSSOnm region.
A preliminary investigation into the use of multiwavelength fiber drop analyzer (FDA) for the measurement of viscosity, spectral absorbance, and refractive index is made with a view to obtaining conservative estimates of the instrumental capability of the FDA for these measurands. Some important new insights into drop vibrations are made from studies on the fiber drop traces (FDTs) of mechanically excited damped vibrations in drops with a set volume. A brief description of the feasibility measurements on the first application of the FDA in the diagnosis of disease in synovial fluid is given. Strong experimental evidence is reported for the existence of the surface-guided wave (SGW) peak of the fiber drop trace and some new insights into the nature of the FDT are suggested based on a comparative study of the FDTs from a multiple-wavelength and a single-wavelength FDA. The earlier reported drop period dependence on applied electric field is critically reexamined, a new interpretation of this effect is suggested, and an experimental study of clarification is given. Finally, a brief review of the projected capabilities of the FDA based on the work reported here is provided.
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