The Photonics Lab.

The vision of the Photonics Lab is to advance research and development of photonic devices, components, and subsystems for optical communications and information processing. Evidence of success will be the generation of new funding streams for sponsored research, publication of peer-reviewed publications, and the creation of commercially-viable intellectual property.

The mission of the Photonics Lab is to provide an environment that supports and enhances both scholarly research and industry-based applications development.

Three focused research initiatives are presently underway: Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Free-Space Optics (FSO), and Advanced Display Technologies.

ITS encompass the convergence of advanced communications, computing and sensing technologies to improve the safety of the traveling public, improve emergency response, reduce traffic congestion, monitor the integrity of critical infrastructure, and monitor environmental conditions. Sponsored projects are presently ongoing to provide design, integration, testing, and software development support to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation as ITS technology is being deployed in the State. Additional research projects focus on the development of distributed sensor networks to measure a variety of relevant parameters.

FSO enables high-bandwidth laser communications with data rates well in excess of current wireless technology. One current research project is investigating the optimal means of establishing and maintaining FSO communications links between moving platforms, e.g., between satellites and aircraft, for commercial and military applications. Further, the development of protocols for multi-node, ad hoc FSO networks is being investigated with the aim of improving the fault-tolerance of FSO communications.

Research activities in the area advanced display technologies focus on the development of systems capable of creating three-dimensional volumetric images.

Other projects involve advanced display technologies, analog fiber optics for avionics applications, and optical security techniques. Recent research sponsors include NASA, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Education, and Tulsa-based 3DIcon Corporation. Current testing capabilities include RF and optical spectrum analysis, optical polarization analysis, optical power measurements, and waveform analysis.

Dr. James Sluss, Morris R. Pitman Professor and Director of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering, directs the activities of the Photonics Lab.