Abstract: A visibly transparent planar structure using a CPA scheme to boost the absorption of a multi-layer thin-film configuration, requiring no surface patterning, to overcome the intrinsic absorption limitation of the absorbing material. This is achieved in a multi-layer absorbing Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity, namely a thin-film amorphous silicon solar cell. Omni-resonance is achieved across a bandwidth of 80 nm in the near-infrared (NIR), thus increasing the effective absorption of the material, without modifying the material itself, enhancing it beyond its intrinsic absorption over a considerable spectral range. The apparatus achieved an increased external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 90% of the photocurrent generated in the 80 nm NIR region from 660 to 740 nm as compared to a bare solar cell. over the spectral range of interest.

Abstract: A visibly transparent planar structure using a CPA scheme to boost the absorption of a multi-layer thin-film configuration, requiring no surface patterning, to overcome the intrinsic absorption limitation of the absorbing material. This is achieved in a multi-layer absorbing Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity, namely a thin-film amorphous silicon solar cell. Omni-resonance is achieved across a bandwidth of 80 nm in the near-infrared (NIR), thus increasing the effective absorption of the material, without modifying the material itself, enhancing it beyond its intrinsic absorption over a considerable spectral range. The apparatus achieved an increased external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 90% of the photocurrent generated in the 80 nm NIR region from 660 to 740 nm as compared to a bare solar cell. over the spectral range of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for omniresonant broadband coherent perfect absorption of incoherent light over large bandwidths. The apparatus and methods that enable 100% effective optical absorption in a structure, irrespective of the material from which it is constructed, over a large, continuous bandwidth (omniresonance) in ultrathin devices. Specifically, we demonstrate achromatic optical absorption (omniresonance) in a planar Fabry-Pérot micro-cavity via angularly multiplexed phase-matching. By assigning each wavelength to an appropriate angle of incidence, the micro-cavity is rendered absorbing with continuous spectral range. For example, the linewidth of a single-order 0.7 nm wide resonance is de-slanted in spectral-angular space to become a 70 nm wide achromatic resonance spanning multiple cavity free spectral ranges. The embodied invention can have important applications in, e.g.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for omniresonant broadband coherent perfect absorption of incoherent light over large bandwidths. The apparatus and methods that enable 100% effective optical absorption in a structure, irrespective of the material from which it is constructed, over a large, continuous bandwidth (omniresonance) in ultrathin devices. Specifically, we demonstrate achromatic optical absorption (omniresonance) in a planar Fabry-Pérot micro-cavity via angularly multiplexed phase-matching. By assigning each wavelength to an appropriate angle of incidence, the micro-cavity is rendered absorbing with continuous spectral range. For example, the linewidth of a single-order 0.7 nm wide resonance is de-slanted in spectral-angular space to become a 70 nm wide achromatic resonance spanning multiple cavity free spectral ranges. The embodied invention can have important applications in, e.g.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chalcogenide glass optical fiber is produced by forming a billet including a chalcogenide glass mass and a polymer mass in a stacked configuration, heating the billet to a temperature below the melting point of the chalcogenide glass, extruding the billet in the ambient environment to form a preform rod having a chalcogenide glass core and a polymer jacket, and drawing the preform rod.

Abstract: A thin film photonic structure that enables segregation of the effective absorption of the thin film and its intrinsic absorption while substantially eliminating bandwidth restrictions. In the form of an optical resonator, the structure includes two, multi-layer, aperiodic dielectric mirrors and a lossy, dielectric thin film and characterized by an intrinsic optical absorption over at least a one octave bandwidth. The two, multi-layer, aperiodic dielectric mirrors are characterized by a reflectivity amplitude that increases in-step with increasing wavelength over the at least one octave bandwidth. Upon a single incoherent beam of optical radiation having a spectrum over the at least one octave bandwidth incident on one side of the resonator structure, the lossy, dielectric thin film is characterized by an effective optical absorption over the at least one octave bandwidth that is greater than the intrinsic optical absorption over the at least one octave bandwidth.

Abstract: A thin film photonic structure that enables segregation of the effective absorption of the thin film and its intrinsic absorption while substantially eliminating bandwidth restrictions. In the form of an optical resonator, the structure includes two, multi-layer, aperiodic dielectric mirrors and a lossy, dielectric thin film and characterized by an intrinsic optical absorption over at least a one octave bandwidth. The two, multi-layer, aperiodic dielectric mirrors are characterized by a reflectivity amplitude that increases in-step with increasing wavelength over the at least one octave bandwidth. Upon a single incoherent beam of optical radiation having a spectrum over the at least one octave bandwidth incident on one side of the resonator structure, the lossy, dielectric thin film is characterized by an effective optical absorption over the at least one octave bandwidth that is greater than the intrinsic optical absorption over the at least one octave bandwidth.

Abstract: A fiber is provided, including a cladding material that is disposed along a longitudinal-axis fiber length. A plurality of spherical particles are disposed as a sequence along a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis in at least a portion of the fiber length, and include a spherical particle material that is interior to the fiber cladding material and different than the fiber cladding material. To produce particles, a drawn fiber, having a longitudinal-axis fiber length and including at least one fiber core that has a longitudinal core axis parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis and that is internally disposed to at least one outer fiber cladding layer along the fiber length, is heated for a time that is sufficient to cause a fiber core to break-up into droplets sequentially disposed along the fiber core axis. Fiber cooling solidifies droplets into spherical particles interior to fiber cladding.

Abstract: There is provided a fiber including a cladding material that is disposed along a longitudinal-axis fiber length. A plurality of spherical particles are provided, separated from one another and disposed in a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis. The particles are in a sequence with controlled periodic spacing between particles along at least a portion of the fiber length. Each spherical particle has a spherical particle material that is embedded within and elementally different than the fiber cladding material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chalcogenide glass optical fiber is produced by forming a billet including a chalcogenide glass mass and a polymer mass in a stacked configuration, heating the billet to a temperature below the melting point of the chalcogenide glass, extruding the billet in the ambient environment to form a preform rod having a chalcogenide glass core and a polymer jacket, and drawing the preform rod.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chalcogenide glass optical fiber is produced by forming a billet including a chalcogenide glass mass and a polymer mass in a stacked configuration, heating the billet to a temperature below the melting point of the chalcogenide glass, extruding the billet in the ambient environment to form a preform rod having a chalcogenide glass core and a polymer jacket, and drawing the preform rod.

Abstract: A fiber is provided, including a cladding material that is disposed along a longitudinal-axis fiber length. A plurality of spherical particles are disposed as a sequence along a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis in at least a portion of the fiber length. Each spherical particle is of a spherical particle material that is interior to and different than the fiber cladding material. The spacing between adjacent spherical particles in the sequence of particles is greater than the spherical particle diameter. Each spherical particle can be provided as a core-shell particle that includes a spherical core that is surrounded by at least one spherical shell. Each spherical particle can be provided with a plurality of azimuthal sections of at least two distinct materials.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chalcogenide glass optical fiber is produced by forming a billet including a chalcogenide glass mass and a polymer mass in a stacked configuration, heating the billet to a temperature below the melting point of the chalcogenide glass, extruding the billet in the ambient environment to form a preform rod having a chalcogenide glass core and a polymer jacket, and drawing the preform rod.