PRESENTATION
Novel fiber array alignment with core-based positioning control
Several photonic applications ranging from optical switches, and co-packaged optics, to quantum computing, require an increasing number of optical fiber connections with sub-micron positioning accuracy. Optical fiber arrays are assembled by means of passive alignment features which do not guarantee the needed accuracy for small MFD beam alignment. Such a limit comes from the fiber array imperfections which compromise the core-to-core pitch accuracy. MicroAlign is developing a new fiber array alignment method, based on a novel micro-actuator, that provides independent and simultaneous active alignment capabilities for all the cores of the array unit.
Simone Cardarelli
MicroAlign
Simone Cardarelli was born on 16-05-1990 in Teramo, Italy. He obtained both his Bachelor and Master degrees in Italy at the University of L’Aquila with 110/110 cum laude, in 2012 and 2014 respectively. From February 2015 he started his PhD project at the Eindhoven University of Technology at Eindhoven. The main focus of his research was to explore efficient and accurate alignment techniques for optical systems, by means of novel photonic integrated devices and micro-electromechanical actuators. He obtained his PhD degree in 2019 and co-invented the multi-fiber positioning stage at the basis of the MicroAlign technology. Since 2019, Simone has been working to bring the invented technology to the marked, and founded MicroAlign in 2021 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, for which he currently works as the director.