Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).

This project aims at achieving vertically etched fused silica transmission gratings for optimalx000D
visible/near-infrared signal dispersion with minimum zeroth order contribution. The treatment and analysis ofx000D
such optical signals address a problem of interest for O/E Land Inc., a company that manufactures advancedx000D
components for fast and highly sensitive spectrometers, optical instruments and sensors, as well as opticalx000D
fibers for telecommunication. The proposed research is based on the implementation of plasma and ion-etchingx000D
techniques to design gratings of etched depths varying between 0.2 and 1.0 µm for optimal first order signalx000D
dispersion and maximal optical transmission in the visible/NIR spectral range. These activities will bex000D
conducted at INRS in close collaboration with O/E Land's engineers, on fused silica substrates covered by ax000D
thin Cr micrometric mask, which will be supplied by the company. After sample processing, both the depth andx000D
the uniformity of the etched gratings will be investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic forcex000D
microscopy (AFM) and/or surface profilometry. The etching parameters will be varied to obtain uniform andx000D
parallel grooves with vertical edges. The diffractive optical elements produced during this project will be thenx000D
integrated into O/E Land instruments, to be tested for specific uses in optical spectrometry and signalx000D
processing, thus ensuring an immediate technology transfer. The expected benefits of this project will allow thex000D
supporting company to offer new products and reinforce its position in the area of optical instrumentation. Itx000D
will give INRS the opportunity of consolidating its expertise in the fabrication and characterization of newx000D
advanced optical components, for future collaborative projects with the private sector, and more particularlyx000D
with the Canadian optical industry.