Optical communications

Hayssam Dahrouj

Senior Research Scientist at KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

Hybrid integration of materials for ultraviolet detection

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B9 L2 H1 R2322

Semiconductors are pervasive in consumer electronics and optoelectronics, and the related optical devices are deemed disruptive that Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014 was awarded to the inventors of blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which “has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources”. While AlInGaN-based lasers and LEDs, and silicon-based photodetectors are currently matured, unconventional usage based on the materials has demonstrated their further potential, including solar-hydrogen generation, indoor-horticulture, and high-speed communication.

Ultraviolet band based underwater wireless optical communication

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KAUST

Underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) has attracted increasing interest for data transfer in various underwater activities, due to its order-of-magnitude higher bandwidth compared to conventional acoustic and radio-frequency (RF) technologies. Our studies pave the way for eventual applications of UWOC by relieving the strict requirements on PAT using UV-based NLOS. Such modality is much sought-after for implementing robust, secure, and high-speed UWOC links in harsh oceanic environments. This work was first started with the investigation of proper NLOS configurations. Path loss (PL) was chosen as a figure-of-merit for link performance. The effects of NLOS geometries, water turbidity, and transmission wavelength are evaluated by measuring the corresponding PL. The experimental results suggest that NLOS UWOC links are favorable for smaller azimuth angles, stronger water turbidity, and shorter transmission wavelength, as exemplified by the use of 375-nm wavelength. With the understanding of favorable NLOS UWOC configurations, we established a NLOS link consisting of an ultraviolet (UV) laser as the transmitter for enhanced light scattering and high sensitivity photomultiplier tube (PMT) as the receiver. A high data rate of 85 Mbit/s using on-off keying (OOK) in a 30-cm emulated highly turbid harbor water is demonstrated. Besides the underwater communication links, UV-based NLOS is also appealing to be the signal carrier for direct communication across wavy water-air interface. The trial results indicate link stability, which alleviates the issues brought about by the misalignment and mobility in harsh environments, paving the way towards real applications.

Taking the heat out of emitters

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Semiconductor light-emitting diodes fabricated on a metal substrate are less prone to overheating.

KAUST Ph.D. student takes home SPIE Photonics West 2020 Best Student Paper Award

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The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) recently awarded KAUST Ph.D. student Jorge Holguín-Lerma with the SPIE Photonics West 2020 Optical Communications Best Student Paper Award.

Xiaobin Sun

Xiaobin Sun is a Ph.D. student at Photonics Laboratory under the supervision of Professor Boon Ooi at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Research Interests Sun's research interests include Semiconductor Optoelectronic device, Optical communication, including underwater optical wireless communications, visible-light communications. Invited Talks: Visible diode lasers for high bitrate underwater wireless optical communications Boon S. Ooi, Xiaobin Sun, Omar Alkhazragi, Yujian Guo, Tien Khee Ng, Mohamed-Slim Alouini Optical Fiber Communication Conference, M3I. 1 (OFC 2019

Mohammad Abdulaziz Husain Alsunaidi

Visiting Scholar, Photonics Laboratory
Mohammad Abdulaziz Husain Alsunaidi conducts research in the field of device-optical wave interaction with emphasis on ultra-short optical pulse propagation and sub-wavelength dynamics in linear and nonlinear devices. He joined KFUPM’s Electrical Engineering Department in 1995 where he is currently a Professor of Photonics. His fields of expertise include Optoelectronics and Photonics, Solid-state Physics, Electromagnetics, Plasmonics, Computing, and Modeling. Research Interests ​His research interests and activities are primarily in physical modeling of linear and non-linear phenomena in