Sensor companies develop rugged fiber optic solutions to help combat global pollution and to protect infrastructure from catastrophic damage and costly repairs.MARIE FREEBODY, CONTRIBUTING EDITORModern societies are facing rising concerns about global environmental issues, including an alarming rise in pollution of our seas, waterways, land, and air. As we bear witness to widespread industrialization along with mass consumption trends, environmental pollution has become more than a health issue; it poses a threat to entire ecosystems. Addressing these issues first requires us to know the nature of the beast. What is the scale of the problem? Fiber optic sensors could be the ideal tool in the armory needed to provide the real story of what is floating in our seas, leaking across...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESFiber Optic Sensors Are Wired for Growth with Infrastructure ImprovementsIn October 2021, a 40-year-old undersea pipeline off the coast of California ruptured, releasing more than 130,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean. The spill polluted the ecosystem,...Photonics Spectra January 2022 IssueHow Optical Networks Are Enabling the 5G AdvantageThe fifth generation of broadband cellular network technology (5G) offers a more than tenfold increase in speed compared to 4G. It handles a wider variety of devices, provides greater reliability,...Photonics Spectra March 2022 IssueOn-Board Optics Expand Bandwidth and Reduce Power Use in the Data CenterCo-packaged optics (CPO) and on-board optics (OBO) are not novel concepts, per se. The benefits of moving optics closer to the computing cores of data center switches have been clear to systems...Photonics Spectra February 2023 IssueGlass Offers Transparent Benefits to Quantum TechnologyCurrently, research on quantum technologies is enjoying a gold rush in funding. Recently published roadmaps provide researchers, industry, and funders with an outlook of what to expect from such...Photonics Spectra January 2022 IssuePRODUCTSPolarity DetectorThe RD-P Remote-head Polarity Detector from JGR Optics Inc. integrates with the IL/RL measurement system to reduce testing time and cost of multifiber optical cable assemblies. Proprietary...Photonics Spectra February 2023 IssueOptical Wavelength MetersThe 238 Series Optical Wavelength Meter from Bristol Instruments Inc. features a broad operational range from 700 to 1650 nm. The device is designed for the precise wavelength characterization...Photonics Spectra May 2022 IssuePolarization-Dependent Loss EmulatorThe Multi-Channel Benchtop Polarization Dependent Loss Emulator from OZ Optics Ltd. allows users to emulate a known polarization dependent loss (PDL) level for quantifying and studying polarization...Photonics Spectra August 2021 IssuePolarization Dependent Loss EmulatorThe Polarization Dependent Loss Emulator from OZ Optics Ltd. emulates a known polarization dependent loss (PDL) level for quantifying and studying polarization impairments and effects in a fiber...Photonics.com 6/10/2021PHOTONICS HANDBOOK ARTICLESOTDRs: Finding the Weak Spots in Fiber Links: The optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is used to characterize a fiber optic span. It performs single-ended tests and can calculate fiber attenuation and uniformity and splice and connector losses. It can also locate breaks and determine fiber length. Its ability to locate and measure reflectance and loss makes it the troubleshooting and fault locating equipment of choice. New generation OTDRs include advanced functions such as macrobend location, active-fiber testing and automatic trace acquisition.An optical time-domain reflectometer sends short pulses of light into a fiber and measures its reflections as a function of time. The delay of these reflections to the detector as well as their...Photonics HandbookAdhesives for Fiber Optics Assembly: Making the Right Choice: Using the proper adhesive in the assembly of fiber optic components not only saves time and expense, but also can improve reliability and performance.Adhesives for fiber optic components that perform well on glass, metal, ceramic and most plastic substrates provide excellent chemical and solvent resistance. They also can act as an electrical...Photonics HandbookConnectors and Splices: Correct Alignment Spells Success: Whether the job is splicing fibers together or connecting fibers to system devices, alignment is the key to success. This article explores the many ways to achieve that goal.Just as an electronic connector provides a pluggable connection between electronic circuits, a fiber optic connector provides an optical one. The goal is joining a fiber to a transmitter, receiver or...Photonics HandbookFiber Optics: Understanding the Basics: Nothing has changed the world of communications as much as the development and implementation of optical fiber. This article provides the basic principles needed to work with this technology.Optical fibers are made from either glass or plastic. Most are roughly the diameter of a human hair, and they may be many miles long. Light is transmitted along the center of the fiber from one end...Photonics HandbookWHITEPAPERSNovel Micro-optics Solutions Through Monolithic Integration of Microlenses and PrismsSUSS MicroOptics is a global leader in micro-optics technology and manufacturing. Innovative combination of process technology has allowed SUSS MicroOptics to integrate micro-lenses and prisms on...Photonics.com 2/28/2022Visualizing Light Guide Performance Using Photorealistic RenderingDiscover the power of light guides with our free whitepaper! Learn about total internal reflection, surface features, and performance parameters with ease. Elevate your expertise and stay ahead in...Photonics.com 2/14/2023Fiber Optic Reflectors for FTTx Network Link MonitoringIn the PON (Passive optical network), especially the complex point-to-multipoint PON ODN (Optical distribution network) topology environment, the rapid monitoring and diagnosis of optical fiber...Photonics.com 7/21/2022Micro Lenses for Imaging Systems - Submillimeter Components and Complex Compound ElementsWe combine all resources for your successful micro imaging needs under one roof. We are specialists in ready-to-install, small and high-precision individual lenses and cemented elements. Our...Photonics.com 12/2/2022WEBINARSUpgrade Your Fiber Optic Diagnostics with Portable Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Backscatter ReflectometryOptical backscatter reflectometry (OBR) has become a valuable tool in the testing and diagnostics of fiber optic assemblies, components, and short networks. OBR systems provide measurement and...Photonics.com 6/2/2020Photonics Spectra Conference 2022: January 10 - 13Photonics Media will host its second annual Photonics Spectra Conference Jan. 10-13. The virtual event will comprise four technology tracks — Lasers, Optics, Sensors and Detectors, and Imaging...Photonics.com 1/10/2022KEYNOTE: Optical Fiber Sensors: Current Technologies, Market, and Future OutlookFiber-optic sensors (FOS) have made a complete transition from basic lab prototypes to successful commercial products. Their commercialization has been slow-moving at times but consistently...Photonics.com 1/12/2022InGaAs Photodiode Detectors: Packaging, Performance, and SWIR ApplicationsVince Forte of Marktech Optoelectronics reviews InGaAs detector types, packaging, performance characteristics, and applications in the NIR and SWIR wavelength bands. He focuses particularly on photo...Photonics.com 5/10/2023PHOTONICS DICTIONARY TERMSoptical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR)A method for characterizing a fiber wherein an optical pulse is transmitted through the fiber, and the resulting light scattered and reflected to the input is measured (by an optical time-domain...EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009time-domain reflectometer (TDR)See optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR).EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009photonicsThe technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and...EDU.photonics.com 3/22/2016mandrelA shaft, spindle or any object generally passed through a workpiece to hold, support or shape a particular piece during its machining process or its practical use. In fiber optics, optical fibers are...EDU.photonics.com 1/14/2013MEDIAVirtual Factory Tour - Fiberoptics Technology Inc.Manufacturing Standard and Custom fiber optics for Industrial, Medical, Commercial, Military, and Machine Vision applications since 1977.Photonics.com 1/17/2023Photonics on the Showroom Floor and in the Lab - LIGHT MATTERS 02.2018On this month's episode of Light Matters, we take you on a brief tour of the Higgins Laboratories at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Quinsigamond Community College and WPI received a $4M grant...Photonics.com 2/21/2018Photonics West 2017 Ushers in the New Year - LIGHT MATTERS 02.2017Photonics Media followed the photons all the way to San Francisco earlier this month for SPIE’s Photonics West 2017. The year truly begins with this event for many in the industry, as it is a symbol...Photonics.com 2/23/2017Light Matters Extra: Optics & Photonics Technology Program, STCC - 09.2017In this month’s Light Matters Extra, we take you to the Springfield Technical Community College campus and introduce you to Professor Nick Massa, who has been teaching Optics and Photonics there for...Photonics.com 9/28/2017PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESFiber Optic SensorsReflectometersA reflectometer is an instrument for measuring reflectance.Optical Talk SetsMetal Coated Fiber Optic FibersCOMPANIESEvanescent Optics Inc.Polarization Maintaining Couplers Evanescent Optics Inc. offers low loss (<0.1dB), high isolation (<-25dB) PM fiber-optic couplers in both fixed ratio and variable models. Our small...Photonics Buyers' GuidePhotonTec Berlin GmbHPhotonTec Berlin GmbH is located in the Center for Microsystems and Materials (ZMM) in Berlin-Adlershof, Germany. We focus on the development, production, and marketing of fiber-coupled diode lasers...Photonics Buyers' GuideMicro Laser Systems Inc.We are a manufacturer of Diffraction Limited Fiber Coupled Laser Systems, Optical Systems, and Fiber Optic Systems from 240 nm to 6000 nm. Unique products include various sizes of Fiber Collimators,...Photonics Buyers' GuideAtGrating Technologies Co. Ltd.AtGrating is a National High-Tech Enterprise focusing on the research and development, manufacturing, sales and service of fiber optic sensing components and devices for fiber optic test and...Photonics Buyers' Guide