Micro-optics and paralle photonic information processing

With this project we intend to introduce new types of micro-optical refractive components that can be fabricated monolithically and wich are compatible with semiconductor components. The fabrication of these micro-optical structures will be achieved by the proton irradiation of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which is a polymer with high optical transparency in the wavelenght range between 300 nm and 3 microm. We will use our experience in optical metrology and opical instrumentation to measure the properties of the fabricated structures. The improvment of this original technology together with our knowledge in computer-aided design of optical components will help us to build optical energy trnsfers efficiency. We will be able to integrate these microsystems in our prototype optical information processing demonstrators to improve performances by order of magnitude. The large design flexibility of this micro-optical technology will allow us to build new systems that can never be practically realized in glass.