North Dakota State University

The group focuses on modeling, characterization, and design of photonic systems, including optical fiber communications systems, biomedical photonics, and volumetric displays, making extensive use of advanced Monte Carlo methods in the research.

Current research themes:

1. Modeling and characterization of the optical signal degradation due to the polarization effects, especially polarization-mode dispersion (PMD), in optical fiber communications systems. We have developed computer simulation tools to determine the robustness of several on-off-keyed (OOK) optical modulation formats with respect to PMD, including systems with PMD compensators. Using these computer simulation tools, which include advanced Monte Carlo methods, we calculated the outage probability due to PMD and due to the combination of polarization-dependent loss and polarization-dependent gain in several OOK optical fiber communication systems. We are currently extending these models to simulate systems with exotic modulation formats and coherent receives.
2. Modeling of light transport in tissue applied to the optimization of optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. We developed an importance sampling method that allowed a time reduction by several orders of magnitude of the numerical simulation of light transport in tissue in OCT systems. We are currently improving these models, which can be a valuable tool in the development of signal processing techniques to extend the imaging depth of OCT systems that are limited by the multipath scattering.
3. Development of volumetric displays using laser systems and new optical materials. We have experimentally demonstrated a new technology to produce true three-dimensional images based on infra-red photon absorption in nanocrystals. We are currently pursuing a further improvement of this technology to enable the production of multicolor images using several laser sources combined with a new, ultra-light weight, optical material that will be used as the volumetric display.
4. Application of advanced Monte Carlo methods to solve problems in electrical engineering that can only be properly solved using Monte Carlo methods.

Group members: Ivan T. Lima, Jr.