About Book

The field of optics has quietly gone from the research table to being used in numerous applications ranging from devices to metrology. Optical engineering refers to the study of optics and designing of optical instruments like microscopes, telescopes, optic discs, lasers, and fiber optic communication systems, etc. In modern world, optical devices are employed in an ever-increasing range of applications, from simple lenses to complex fibre-optic communication networks. Opto-electronics and metrology are already well-developed fields merging the areas of optics and a variety of other engineering areas (such as electronics, mechanical engineering, etc) in many advanced and commonly used devices. This book discusses the most vital concepts in the field of optical engineering. It presents this complex subject in the most comprehensible and easy to understand language. It explores optical fibers, metal-doped optical, liquid crystal, plastic optical, optical interference, optical pressure measurement and optical methods. Also included in it is a detailed explanation of the various concepts and applications of optical engineering. This book is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of this important field and it is meant for students who are looking for an elaborate reference book on modern optical engineering.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Optical Methods Applied to Hydrodynamics of Cohesive Sediments......................................................................................................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Methods..................................................................................................4

3. Results.....................................................................................................9

4. Conclusions..........................................................................................20

Chapter 2 Optical Pressure Measurement Principle System.............................24

Abstract ................................................................................................24

1. Introduction..........................................................................................24

2. Measurement principle......................................................................26

3. Measurement systems........................................................................28

4. Study of PSP measurement system characteristics......................41

5. Examples of optical PSP....................................................................46

6. Conclusion............................................................................................51

Acknowledgements.............................................................................51

Chapter 3 Optical Interference Signal Processing in Precision Dimension Measurement ............................................................................................53

1. Introduction..........................................................................................53

2. Signal preprocessing .........................................................................56

3. Bidirectional subdivision ..................................................................58

4. Error detection and elimination .....................................................65

5. Implementation platform .................................................................70

6. Summary .............................................................................................70

Chapter 4 Sensing Applications for Plastic Optical Fibres in Civil

Engineering.................................................................................................74

1. Introduction ........................................................................................74

2. POF sensors for civil engineering applications ...........................77

3. Conclusion ..........................................................................................99

4. Acknowledgment................................................................................99

Chapter 5 Tapered Optical Fibers – An Investigative Approach to the Helical

and Liquid Crystal Types.....................................................................102

1. Introduction........................................................................................102

2. Dielectric tapered fibers .................................................................104

3. Helical clad tapered dielectric optical fibers .............................118

4. Tapered fibers with liquid crystal clad .......................................124

5. Conclusion ........................................................................................150

6. Acknowledgement ...........................................................................151

Chapter 6 Tailoring of the Local Environment of Active Ions in

Rare-Earth- and Transition-Metal-Doped Optical Fibres and

Potential Applications ..........................................................................157

1. Introduction........................................................................................157

2. Experimental......................................................................................160

3. Thulium-doped fibres .....................................................................161

4. Transition metal ions in silica-based optical fibres ..................170

5. Rare-earth-doped dielectric nanoparticles....................................176

6. General conclusion ..........................................................................182

7. Acknowledgments ...........................................................................183

Chapter 7 Rare-Earth Doped Optical Fibers ......................................................191

1. Introduction........................................................................................191

2. Principles of operation.....................................................................195

3. Fiber lasers ........................................................................................205

4. Other rare-earth fiber devices .......................................................210

5. Conclusion ........................................................................................213

6. Acknowledgment .............................................................................214

Citation......................................................................................................217

Index...........................................................................................................219

About Author

Annabelle Walter pursued her Ph.D. in Optics and Photonics from Public University, Brighton. She has served as an Associate Professor at Community College, Maastricht. She has been awarded the “Distinguished Teacher of the Year” award for her excellence in teaching. Today, she is a veteran in the field of optical engineering with numerous revolutionizing texts, articles and research papers to her credit. Walter is an active member of several scientific and technical societies, where she continues to share her expertise and knowledge in the field of the electromagnetic wave, physical optics and fiber optics.