AOS News - The Australian Optical Society - Macquarie University

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party equipment and instrumentation.AOS News Volume 25 Number 1 201100Attenuation (dB)-5-10-15Attenuation (dB)-5-10-15-20per M Seriesplications-20-0.05 -0.04 -0.03 -0.02 -0.01 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05Frequency Offset (THz)-25-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2Frequency Offset (THz)The Example WaveShaper filter shapes generated family with of WaveShaper Programmable 1000/4000S Optical Programmable Processors Optical Processor providesa range of programmable optical filtering and switching options foroptical R&D and production test applications. Based on Finisar’s highresolution,members solid-state of the WaveShaper Liquid Crystal family can on be Silicon controlled (LCoS) through optical the engine, theAllWaveManager WaveShaper Application family provides Suite extremely which provides fine control an intuitive of filter user characteristics,interfaceforincludingreal-timecentrecontrolwavelength,of up to fourbandwidth,separate WaveShapers.shape and, forControlWaveShapersoftware1000is also provided for both Windows and Unix (Linux) which allows fulland 4000, dispersion and attenuation. The WaveShaper range includescontrol of all aspects of the WaveShaper functionality. A common APIa Channel Selector (WaveShaper 100S), Programmable Optical Filteracross all operating systems makes it easy to integrate the WaveShaperfunctionality(WaveShaperinto1000S)the usersandsystem.MultiportLabVIEWOpticaldriversProcessorare provided(WaveShaperas wellas 4000S). bindings OEM for common versions programming of the WaveShaper and scripting platform languages are such also as available C,Visual for embedded Basic, Python, applications. etc . Driverstomation(true)(false)ce in[THz][THz][dB]Porterror)z] (0)B] (0)d] (0)hTypeDemonstrated applications of the WaveShaper ProgrammableOptical Processor include: Optical Filter Simulation Optical Component Testing Transceiver TestingWaveShaper 4000S RedoAvailable Multiport Optical Processor extends the capability ofUndoAvailablethe WaveShaper 1000S including the ability EDFAto directTestingdifferent portions of theWSHAPERreference outspectrum to different CurrentParametersoutput ports with different, DWDM arbitrary System user-generatedSimulationMAINWaveShaperUpdatedchannel shapes for each portion of the spectrum. DWDM The System Flexgrid Testing option in theerror outWaveManager software simplifies the emulation Fourier of Domain flexible bandwidth Waveform WSS Manipulation foradvanced network development. Optical/Microwave FilteringWaveShaper M Series are the OEM versions Laser of the Pulse 1000S/4000S CompressionProgrammable Optical Processors and are designed Dissipative for Mode embedding Locking into of third Fibre Lasersparty equipment and instrumentation.00Attenuation (dB)-5-10-15Attenuation (dB)-5-10-15-20For more information, seewww.finisar.com/waveshaper orcontact us now for a free trial onwaveshaper@finisar.com.-20-0.05 -0.04 -0.03 -0.02 -0.01 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05Frequency Offset (THz)-25-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2Frequency Offset (THz)Example filter shapes generated with WaveShaper 1000/4000S Programmable Optical ProcessorAll members of the WaveShaper family can be controlled through theWaveManager Application Suite which provides an intuitive user interfacefor real-time control of up to four separate WaveShapers. Control softwareis also provided for both Windows and Unix (Linux) which allows fullcontrol of all aspects of the WaveShaper functionality. A common API26 across all operating systems makes it easy to integrate the WaveShaperfunctionality into the users system. LabVIEW drivers are provided as well
h the grid to be conveyed.phistication of the cryptography required is evident in the outcomes of the students. Mostall three colours independently and then in combination as well as varying the time andping an error checking protocol to ensure that data sent is received correctly.AOS News Volume 25 Number 1 2011correct solutions; it must work reliably ina diverse range of venues; the equipmentEngineering Challenge:•must be fairly inexpensive and portable;and – most importantly – it has to surviveyear 10 students of all motivationallevels. Optical activities have to be eyesafe, and are additionally constrained•by the fact that most Challenge venuesEngineering.can’t be darkened, don’t have curtained•or shrouded spaces, and can’t involveinterference or diffraction (as the moststable table at many Challenge venues may•The Confounding have had Communications the CWA scone display equipment or a prize comprising Figure two 2. ‘light A sample boxes’, of fibre the data optic to cables be and fittings.(Not shown: fleece A small on it portable the week screen before). to separate the team conveyed into two groups.)A sample of the It was data to decided be conveyed that an optical data sent is received correctly.•cryptography activity incorporating both The activity runs for 2 hours. Initiallytivity runs for 2 hours. Initially the members of each school team work together to devisetime and wavelength division multiplexing the members of each school team workto send three though different optical fibres types met of these messages. criteria. After together about to devise half an codes hour to each send team three is divided intoalf the students The activity sit was at one introduced end of under the the desk title and different the remaining types of messages. students After sit at about the other end ofsk. A small “Confounding curtain screen Communications”.separates the two half groups an hour and each ensures team is divided that there into two; is no cheating.Kira Mileham, at that time an half the students sit at one end of the desktivity is timed. undergraduate All teams Science start Communicationtogether. The and students the remaining at one students end of sit the at the desk other must use thethey devised student, earlier developed to encode the activity and transmit while end the of first the secret desk. A message. small curtain Their screen other teamthe technical difficulties were sorted out separates the two groups and ensures thaters, on the other side of the screen, must receive and decode the message as quickly andby a team lead by Bob Nelson and John there is no cheating.tely as possible. Holdsworth. It was Using originally a three -colour envisaged RGB that, The after activity teams is timed. had devised All teams a start coding system, ittake several light minutes emitting for diode the and transmission clear jacketed part together. of the The activity. students In at fact, one end it is of relatively the commonms to send plastic fairly optical long and fibre complex with a 1mm messages core desk in 30 must seconds use the or system less! they devised(see photograph below), the participants earlier to encode and transmit the firstllenge activities develop their require own unique a creative, code to experimental, transmit secret message. hands-on Their approach. other team members, To successful, students information need to based apply on their combinations individual of the skills on and the knowledge, other side of and the screen, work together must as a team.three colours and time duration of the receive and decode the message as quicklych conducted pulses. on Two the cables effectiveness were used so of that the the Challenge and accurately revealed as possible. that It participation was originally in the Sciencegineering communication Challenge: could be bi-directional.The activity requires them to conveyenvisaged that, after teams had deviseda coding system, it would take severalIncreases information the students’ about two awareness grids, the of first careers of minutes science for the and transmission engineering. part of As the well, itwhich is a 4 x4 array of different coloured activity. In fact, it is relatively commondemonstrates to them that there is an opportunity for them to participate in these careers.squares and circles, shown below, while for teams to send fairly long and complexIncreases the their second interest is a 10 x in 10 Science grid with and “enemy Engineering. messages in 30 seconds or less!Influences units” their and a decision safe pathway to undertake through the grid science All and Challenge maths in activities senior high require school. aDramatically to be conveyed. improves their teamwork ability. creative, (This experimental, is a key outcome.) hands-on approach.The sophistication of the cryptographyrequired is evident in the outcomes of thestudents. Most will use all three coloursindependently and then in combinationas well as varying the time and developingan error checking protocol to ensure thatTo be successful though, students needto apply their individual skills andknowledge, and work together as a team.Research conducted on theeffectiveness of the Challenge revealedthat participation in the Science andevents/challenge/Newcastle.Increases the students’ awareness ofcareers in science and engineering.As well, it demonstrates to them thatthere is an opportunity for them toparticipate in these careers.Increases their interest in Science andInfluences their decision to undertakescience and maths in senior highschool.Dramatically improves theirteamwork ability. (This is a keyoutcome.)Increases their self-confidence.Since 2000, over one hundred thousandschool students have participated in theScience and Engineering Challenge, andover eight thousand of them have competedin Confounding Communications. Theactivity notes have just been revised andthe activity remains extremely popular.It is of some small satisfaction that thefirst time many of the past students saw,touched and experienced an optical fibre isin the Science and Engineering Challenge.As the National Broadband Networkrolls out across the nation, the concept oftransmitting a secure, wavelength divisionmultiplexed, time division multiplexedoptical communication signal has alreadybeen embedded in the minds of thousandsof year ten students due to the Scienceand Engineering challenge. If only theirteachers realised it.For more information, visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/engineering/The authors are with the University of27
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