With the help of an associate professor at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), the future development of cutting-edge optical technology might not have to be as slow and costly. Dr. Hengky Chandrahalim was recently awarded a patent for an invention that uses precisely controlled liquids to drastically simplify manufacturing and boost performance across industries.
“The big picture behind our invention is to simplify how advanced optical devices communicate and interact,” said Dr. Chandrahalim, whose technical background is in electrical engineering. “By using liquids to enhance these subtle evanescent interactions, we help optical systems become more affordable, scalable and versatile, making their incredible capabilities available to many more people and industries.”
To grasp the significance of Dr. Chandrahalim’s invention, named “method of evanescently coupling whispering gallery mode optical resonators using liquids,” it’s necessary to understand the problem.
“In the field of optical technology, especially when creating advanced lasers and sensors, scientists often need two microscopic structures to communicate or exchange information through light,” said Dr. Chandrahalim, who worked with attorney James McBride to nail down the patent. “The main difficulty is that, to make these tiny structures effectively ‘talk’ to each other, we have to place them extremely close together, much closer than a single strand of human hair. In fact, the gap required for effective optical communication is so incredibly small that conventional manufacturing techniques can't reliably achieve it.”
Scientists have depended on highly specialized fabrication methods like electron-beam lithography to complete these tasks in the past.
“We introduced carefully selected liquids into the gap between these structures,” said Dr. Chandrahalim, who worked with his former graduate student, Capt. Kyle T. Bodily, to advance the invention. “These liquids are special because they help the structures communicate their optical signals effectively, even when they're placed farther apart than previously thought possible. Using these liquids dramatically relaxes the requirement for ultra-precise, extremely close positioning.
“Now, instead of needing specialized, costly and slow fabrication methods, we can achieve the necessary interactions using common, affordable manufacturing processes.”
Basically, instead of physically forcing the light sources to be so close they almost touch, the liquid is used to create an optical connection that's just as good, or even better, and much easier to manage. The light doesn't need to physically jump a tiny gap. It flows and interacts through the liquid.
“Securing this patent means we've successfully developed and protected a valuable and practical technology, one that we believe holds significant promise for enhancing capabilities within the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense,” Dr. Chandrahalim said. “For our team, achieving this milestone is not just a professional accomplishment but also a source of immense personal satisfaction, because it validates the long hours of research, experimentation, creativity and collaborative effort that we have invested in this invention.
“More broadly, securing this patent represents an important step forward in ensuring that this technology can be developed further, refined and ultimately put into practical use.”
Dr. Chandrahalim sees a bright future for his invention, including strides in potential applications from medical devices to defense systems.
“Looking ahead, our ultimate goal for this patented technology is to ensure that it fully realizes its potential and makes a meaningful impact on both national defense and the broader society,” he said. “Over the next five to 10 years, our primary ambition is to transition this invention from the research lab into practical, widely available technologies that genuinely benefit the Department of Defense and the general public alike. To achieve this, we're actively exploring opportunities to license this patent.
“Licensing is a crucial step, as it will enable experienced industry partners, startup companies or other innovative teams to bring our technology into full-scale production and practical application.”
There’s a world of possibilities.
“This invention opens up significant opportunities because it allows us to produce advanced lasers, sensors and optical devices on a larger scale, with lower cost and greater ease,” Dr. Chandrahalim said. “Potential applications include things like sensitive medical diagnostics, precise environmental monitoring, ultra-secure communications systems and even advanced navigational instruments. By using this approach, we're making optical technology more practical, more accessible and easier to integrate into many aspects of daily life and industry.”
United States Patent Office Patent: #11, 650, 370 B1
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