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Patriots sign WRs Cole Stanford, Brian Tyms, release injured WR Greg Orton | 07.27.14 at 9:51 am ET |
FOXBORO — The Patriots made a pair of signings for the back end of their roster, adjusting for the loss of receiver Greg Orton on Friday.
Director of player personnel Nick Caserio announced Sunday morning during his press conference that the team signed receivers Cole Stanford and Brian Tyms. Both were in attendance Sunday morning as the team held its second straight practice in pads.
Stanford was wearing No. 14 while Tyms was assigned No. 84. Tyms was undrafted out of Florida A&M in 2012. He has spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. Last year, he played for the Cleveland Browns, where currently Patriots executive Mike Lombardi watched him when Lombardi served in Cleveland's front office.
As for Stanford, he played collegiately at Cal Poly, catching 43 passes for 891 yards and four touchdowns during his four years. As a hybrid weapon, he also rushed 54 times for 314 yards with a touchdown.
The Patriots also waived (injured designation) Orton, who will go back to the Patriots on injured reserve if he clears waivers. Orton suffered a lower body injury during practice late in practice Friday and had to be carted off the field.
Orton, 28, was originally signed to the Patriots practice squad on Dec. 31, 2013, released by the team on May 22, 2014, and re-signed on July 23. The 6-foot-3, 199-pounder spent part of 2011 and all of 2012 on the Denver practice squad and went to training camp with Denver in 2013. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals out of Purdue in 2009. Orton had stints with the Arena Football League's Spokane Shock and the United Football League's Omaha Knights before joining the Denver practice squad.
Four thoughts on potential reunion between Bill Belichick and Mike Lombardi | 02.13.14 at 9:19 pm ET |
It sounds more and more like Bill Belichick and Mike Lombardi are going to be working together again. Here are four thoughts on what that reunion would mean for both sides:
1. Belichick and Lombardi are like-minded individuals when it comes to running a football team — Lombardi has a deep and abiding relationship with Belichick that goes back to 1991, when Lombardi was working with Belichick in Cleveland. And while there have been several stops for Lombardi in the last 20-plus years, if there's anyone left in the organization who could serve as a true counterpoint to Belichick on personnel matters, it would be Lombardi.
The Patriots coach has spoken glowingly of Lombardi in the past, including this statement in December:
'He's thorough, he's smart, he's thorough, he understands football,' Belichick said of Lombardi last December in the days leading up to the Browns-Patriots game. 'He understands not just personnel, but schemes and how certain players fit into certain schemes better than others because of the responsibilities in those schemes; the type of plays or the type of system that coaches run, different coaches run.
'There are obviously a lot of different coaches in this league, different coaches in college, so that affects the performance of the players — some good, some bad, depending on how they fit into that particular system. I think he has a very good understanding of that, which is important for personnel people to understand, just like it is for coaches to understand personnel.
'Mike is a hard working guy that won't leave a stone unturned. He'll find players, the Tony Joneses of the world, the Wally Williams of the world, the guys like that that played very well for us at Cleveland that nobody ever heard of that came out of nowhere that were good football players. He has a way of finding those guys.'
The relationship between Belichick and Lombardi was so close, in fact, that after Lombardi left the Raiders (he was there in various capacities from 1998 until 2007), then-owner Al Davis accused Lombardi of helping New England to the detriment of Oakland, pointing to the 2007 deal that brought Randy Moss to the Patriots. 'What's his name knew he could run, he's a friend of Belichick's. Mike Lombardi. Mike sold what's his name, Belichick, on the idea that [Moss] could run. They tampered with him. I remember Bob Kraft saying that he had to look him in the eye and all that. They went down and worked him out, he could run.' Lombardi later denied the charges. 'I was trying to do the best thing for the Raiders, always have,' he said. 'In this situation, Bill Belichick is not going to always rely on my opinion for information. He is going to look at what he sees on the tape.'
2. Lombardi would serve as what might best be termed 'Nick Caserio Insurance.' The Patriots current personnel chief suddenly became a man in demand this offseason, as he took two interviews for the vacant Miami GM job, and while it's debatable how open Caserio would be to leaving Foxboro, the fact that he put himself out there is a sign he could be interested in moving on sooner rather than later, and if/when he did, Lombardi would offer another personnel voice. As it stands right now, it's unclear what sort of role or title Lombardi would have in the organization, but he'd likely be part of an inner circle of personnel men, a group that includes Belichick, Caserio and college scouting director Jon Robinson.
3. Belichick has had veteran voices in his corner on several occasions, with the latest being Floyd Reese, who served as 'senior football advisor' in New England from 200 through 2012. (According to several people close to the organization, Reese was the one who negotiated contracts.) It's unlikely that Lombardi would fill that role, as he's more of a personnel man, but it's not out of the realm that he could have multiple responsibilities if needed.
4. It's also worth mentioning that despite the fact he was never officially on the Patriots payroll, he continued to keep an interest in New England. His son Mick worked for the Patriots in 2012 before moving on to take a job with the Niners, and then, last year, with the Browns. In addition, Shalise Manza-Young of the Boston Globe reports that Lombardi served as an unofficial advisor/consultant with the Patriots when it came to the 2010 and 2012 drafts.
Updates on Josh Cribbs, Danny Amendola and how their situations might affect the Wes Welker sweepstakes | 03.13.13 at 12:44 am ET |
Three more notes before the end of the night:
'¢ The Josh Cribbs saga continues. After a report from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer at the start of the day that linked the return man to New England, a Fox Sports report later dismissed the idea, and said that Cribbs could be ticketed to the Cardinals. But late Tuesday evening, another report from Mary-Kay Cabot of the P-D indicates that Cribbs has narrowed it down to New England and Arizona. (She reports the Niners were in the mix for a bit, but have since dropped out.) Cabot is also reporting that there is interest in both sides in a trade that would send Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallett to the Browns. Cleveland's new personnel chief Mike Lombardi is tight with Bill Belichick, and Lombardi has expressed his admiration for Mallett in the past on more than one occasion.
'¢ Multiple outlets are now reporting that the market has started to narrow for slot receiver Danny Amendola, with the Ravens and Eagles in the market. Amendola, who has had a tough run of injuries as of late, caught 63 passes in 11 games in 2012, with 666 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the NFL in all purpose yards in 2010, with 689 reception yards (on 85 receptions), 452 punt return yards and 1,142 kickoff return yards. Amendola certainly makes sense from a Baltimore perspective, as the Ravens recently dealt slot receiver Anquan Boldin to the Niners for a draft pick.
'¢ Both the Cribbs and Amendola situations would affect Welker, as New England could potentially view the younger slot receiver as a potential replacement for Welker — if Welker signs elsewhere soon (or, at least before Amendola and maybe Cribbs), the Patriots could enter into the bidding.
Mike Lombardi on D&C: 'I think it's going to be New England and Denver' in AFC | 11.30.12 at 10:29 am ET |
NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi joined Dennis & Callahan on Friday morning to preview Sunday's Patriots-Dolphins game and discuss news from around the league. To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.
Heading into Sunday's game with the Dolphins, Lombardi said that the Patriots have to figure out a way to run the ball against a Dolphins team that a lot of people credit as having a better defense than they actually do.
'People say that all the time,' Lombardi said. 'But when you study the team, and you're in a nickel formation, they allow five yards per carry. So, the reality of the situation is if you want to be in two backs and you want to show how tough you are, and you want to try to prove a point and you want to prove that they can stop the run, line up in two backs and run the ball at them. You won't have any success. So, you have to solve the problem, you have to be divergent in your thinking. So, what teams have done is spread them out, get in nickel and see if they can force the run in nickel, which fits the Patriots perfectly.'
Tom Brady and the Pats are coming off a Thanksgiving night victory over the Jets. Lombardi said that Brady is a patient quarterback and that it will benefit the Patriots in Sunday's game.
'I think what Brady is able to do is make the right decisions almost all the time,' Lombardi said. 'Since the Seattle game when he threw the ball to Deion Branch and he should've probably thrown it to [Rob] Gronkowski or [Aaron] Hernandez on a crossing route, you rarely see Tom take a chance that's not there. Sometimes you get upset that he doesn't try to at least throw it up the field, but Tom always is doing what's best for the offense. '¦ I think Tom plays a patient game and that really helps when you play a team like San Francisco or when you're going to play Miami. Patience is a virtue. You've got to be able to continue on up the field and not always kind of try to be desperate, and I think he does a great job of that.'
Added Lombardi: 'I think he's having a great season. It's swept under the carpet because of the running game of the Patriots. '¦ But I think now he's throwing the deep ball better than he has pretty much in the last three or four years.'
Mike Lombardi on D&C: Aqib Talib will have 'significant impact' on Sunday | 11.16.12 at 10:48 am ET |
NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi joined Dennis & Callahan on Friday morning to preview Sunday's Patriots-Colts game and discuss news from around the league. To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.
Cornerback Aqib Talib joins the Patriots this week and Lombardi said he can make an immediate impact on the struggling secondary.
'I think he can make a significant impact on the outside,' Lombardi said. 'This week against the Colts, it's a little different game because the Colts have a couple of those receivers who have quickness and vertical speed in [Donnie] Avery and T.Y. Hilton so they're not really the matchup for Talib. But certainly I think he can help on outside. What it will allow the Patriots to do is, if you really break down Patriots tape, the middle of the defense — the 'backers, the safeties — this is where they're getting killed more than anything. '¦ Get more speed on the field at linebacker, try to create some more situations where there is more depth in the zone drops, something that didn't happen last week.'
The Patriots play the Colts and Andrew Luck on Sunday. Lombardi said the Colts aren't a playoff contender yet because their defense hasn't played a full, four-quarter game.
'[Luck] been able to control the ball, and I think [interim coach] Bruce Arians has done a wonderful job of implementing the Pittsburgh Steeler offense,' Lombardi said. 'I think the whole offense is tailored exactly after the Steelers when you watch them closely on tape. They've been able to play what I call 'Little League games,' their defense has only played seven innings, they only have to play like 26 minutes in a game. And so they've never played a full nine-inning Major League Baseball game defensively. This week, they're going to have to play nine innings and then we'll find out if they're a playoff team. '¦ They're a year away from me looking at them like a legitimate playoff team, but don't underestimate Andrew Luck.'
Lombardi pointed out some of Luck's abilities and cautioned that the Patriots need to stop him from moving in the pocket this Sunday.
'He's only completing slightly over 55 percent of his passes, he's taken a pounding, but one thing about Luck, he gets back up,' Lombardi said. 'It doesn't affect him whatsoever, he keeps looking down the field to take a shot down the field and that's where he's been so effective. '¦ I don't know if he has [a weakness]. His mental ability and his mental toughness to me carries over for any slight deficiencies he might have in the game. '¦ His movement in the pocket is really what makes him so effective. The Patriots have to do a good job of controlling him in the pocket and not allowing him to move. Not because they're afraid he's going to run. '¦ What he typically likes to do, like Big Ben [Roethlisberger] is move in the pocket and then make plays up the field. I think Patriots have to do a really good job of protecting him, keeping him in the pocket, and forcing him to hold that ball.'
Mike Lombardi on D&C: Rams going to take their shots in fourth quarter | 10.26.12 at 10:01 am ET |
NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi joined Dennis & Callahan on Friday morning to preview Sunday's Patriots-Rams game and discuss news from around the league. To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.
Some have speculated that overseas trips help teams to bond, but Lombardi said he didn't believe so.
'The Patriots, the Rams, they're not Boy Scouts,' Lombardi said. 'Trips that go away are not bonding trips. What bonds a team is what Tom Brady did at the end of that Jets game. Coming from behind, kicking that field goal, winning the game. Those are the kind of plays that bond teams. This whole going away stuff, I've never bought into it.'
Asked whether the Patriots' use of a conservative defensive scheme, one that doesn't blitz, is partly to blame for their inability to close out games, Lombardi said the responsibility starts with the offense.
'The Patriots team this year has given up 58 points in the fourth quarter alone,' Lombardi said. 'They've only given up 61 points in the first half alone. Because the offense hasn't extended the lead, whether it's Seattle where you're up 23-13, or the Jets game where you're up 23-13. You've got a chance. Put the game away, make it a 30-13 game. They didn't do it, they made it a closer game. Same thing in Seattle, same thing in Baltimore. And I think that becomes the problem for them, when the offense doesn't put the game away, then all of a sudden things start to fall apart. That's really what's happened.'
Lombardi predicts the Rams will attempt to take advantage of New England's unimpressive defensive secondary by airing it out.
'I think they're going to," Lombardi said. "The Rams have a unique team. What the Rams are saying when they play you is, 'We think you're going to mess up. So we're going to be as conservative as we possibly can be. We're not going to blow this game. We're going to try to get this game to the fourth quarter, we're going to take our shot.' And I think you'll see them take shots up the field.
"I think they will throw it down the field if they can make a few plays. That's part of what they want to do, anyway. They know they're not good enough. They know their offensive line is really a work in progress, and that's being polite. '¦ They have to control the ball, stay in a lot of third-and-shorts, keep 10-play drives, and really the Rams don't mind if you keep the ball for 10 minutes, either. They just want to keep you out of the end zone. They'll let you have a field goal if you keep it for 10 minutes."
Mike Lombardi on D&C: Patriots DBs 'have to get better' | 10.19.12 at 10:35 am ET |
NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi joined Dennis & Callahan on Friday morning to review the Patriots' loss to the Seahawks, preview Sunday's Pats-Jets game, and discuss news from around the league. To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.
The finger has been pointed at the Patriots secondary as the key reason for the team's struggles. Lombardi discussed how it can be improved.
'It's certainly a concern and obviously it has to rely on some of the players. I think what you saw, let's be real honest here, Patrick Chung's ball skills down the field have got to get better,' Lombardi said. 'I don't know how you make them better, how you make his instincts better on the ball down the field. I think not having Steve Gregory back there is certainly a concern. '¦ They have to get better at making plays down the field. [Devin] McCourty, everyone. And I think ultimately its something that will be worked on. It's a skill. '¦ Instincts for DBs are something we don't talk enough about, we always talk about size and speed. But I think instincts really play an important part, and ultimately, that's a hard thing to coach.'
Following the matchup with the Seahawks, Lombardi considered what teams should do against the Patriots in coming weeks.
'You should throw it up five times a quarter. Let's be real honest, you've got to throw it up,' Lombardi said. 'People are going to throw it to McCourty and see if he can make a play. He hasn't been able to make a play with the ball in the air down the field all season. So I think that's where teams see it on tape, and why not take a shot?'
Lombardi identified a weak pass rush as a contributing factor to the struggles vs. Seattle.
'More importantly than the lack of play in the secondary, I thought their pass rush last week in terms of controlling [Russell] Wilson in the pocket and, typically, that's what the Bill Belichick defense usually does, is control him in the pocket with their pass rush,' Lombardi said. 'When you have Russell Wilson, you have to rush him like he's actually attempting a field goal. You have to force him to stay in front of you. You got to force him to see over the big guys. You got to force him to have to stand behind the center and throw the ball. And then there's no chance he's going to beat you doing that.'
Looking at the Patriots' fourth-quarter struggles, Lombardi was asked whether the drive this team has showed in past years still exists.
'No, it doesn't. There's that fine line about where do we go, do we be aggressive offensively or do we play it and try to just let the clock run out,' Lombardi said. 'I think they've lost a little bit of that edge, the confidence within the edge. They've got to find it and they've got to get that back. They have to make the throws they have to make. '¦ Going 1-for-6 in the red zone is not going to win many games. '¦ Mistakes that the Patriots typically don't make and they're making them and they've made them all season long and I think that's where they have to eliminate that.'


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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2 I S S U E Contributors Pumped up and seeing red For photographer Jefferson Jackson Steele, this issue's "Big Question" -- "Is This the Worse Time Ever To Be a CEO?" -- resonated personally. "I'm an AOL stockholder," he explains, so the wave of corporate wrongdoing now coming to light "really makes me angry." Steele, who shoots regularly for Baltimore Magazine and Baltimore's City Paper, used a technique known as cross processing to "really pump up the color" in his portrait of professor Mark Blyth. Says Steele, "When I get the opportunity to open up the gates, I really like to do it."
It's easy to feel jealous of senior writer Dale Keiger, who got the plum assignment of reporting on two Peabody roller coaster enthusiasts. The reality: 14-hour days spent in the heat and humidity, enduring punishing jolts and mediocre park fare. "You can't ride a rollercoaster 16 times over the course of a couple hours and not have it wear you out. I usually came out with a headache," he says, then adds, "But it was fun." His favorite coaster? The one he passed out on: Talon, at Pennsylvania's Dorney Park. "I've never been in a fighter jet, but I think a ride like Talon is as close as I'm likely to get." --SD
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Though LaRue County High School Marching Band of Hawks' state championship Class AA performance took only eight minutes, its preparation was a year in the making. "We started thinking about it last November, but began thinking about the actual theme and design around February," said Jaime Smith, band director.
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ALES Site-based council schedule The ALES site-based council meetings will be 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 12, April 16 and May 14 in the conference room. For more information, call the school at 358-4112.
Academic Team meets The Academic Team meets until 4:15 p.m. after school every Wednesday in the library.
Progress reports Progress reports go home Nov. 9.
STLP meets The Student Technology Leadership Program meets 3:05-4:15 p.m. Nov. 10.
Jonathan Carl, South Fork Baptist Church pastor, West Point Military Academy graduate and Iraq War veteran, will be the featured speaker at LaRue County's middle and high schools' Veterans Day ceremonies Nov. 11. The middle school program starts at 9 a.m. in the high school gym followed by the high school program at 12:45 p.m. The ceremony will include patriotic music performed by the LaRue County High School Band of Hawks. Veterans will be recognized for their service. About 60 attended last year's program.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. State Commission, part of the Governor's Office of Minority Empowerment, is seeking nominations for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Citizenship Award, along with essays and artwork for the esteemed King Award. The theme for the essays and artwork is "Exploring the 'King' in You." The contest is open to kindergarten to 12th-grade students who may submit an essay or two-dimensional artwork that reflects a student's most inspired King moment or speech.
Campbellsville University Technology Training Center is offering two allied health programs at the Brockman Center in Hodgenville.
Campbellsville University Technology Training Center is also offering a course in phlebotomy that begins Thursday, Nov. 10 and runs through Dec. 22. The class will be taught Monday and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until noon at the Brockman Center.
LaRue County High School is one of 13 schools across the state that have been chosen as pilot schools for the first-ever College Application Week program.
The school will receive in-depth assistance from the outreach staff of the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority during College Application Week Nov. 14-18.
All faculty and staff have been asked to wear their college sweatshirts or T-shirts on Nov. 14 to kickoff the event.
Scheduled events include:
LaRue County Middle School once again brought home a club national leadership award at the annual National Beta Club Leadership Conference. The school also claimed the title last year in Tennessee. This year the conference was held in Chicago. Students spent three days in the city visiting various museums and engaging in leadership training sessions. The program is sponsored by the National Beta Club and schools and students from across the state were in attendance.


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US 3993485 A Abstract A photopolymerization process is adapted for the production of various optical devices by means of a modified process which serves to increase the index change obtainable in a variable pattern of index of refraction. The process comprises the steps of flowing into place in a supporting structure a mixture of two components of differing reactivity and polarizability, partially polymerizing the mixture, writing a pattern of varying index of refraction in the partially polymerized mixture by further polymerizing it by suitable optical radiation in a corresponding pattern, and fixing the mixture against subsequent changes in polymerization. Typical components used in the process include a mixture of the monomers cyclohexyl methacrylate and N-vinylcarbazole together with benzoin methyl ether as a photosensitive initiator of polymerization, which proceeds by free radical reactions. In the limit of our technique, one of the components can have zero reactivity. This photopolymerization process is applicable to production of volume gratings in closed cavities having parts with constricted clearances therebetween, in which application it is impossible to evaporate unreacted components after the mixture has been flowed into place. The volume gratings are useful in distributed feedback lasers, in frequency sensitive optical filters and in channel-dropping arrangements for optical communication systems. Submerging the apparatus in which polymerization is to occur in an index-matching fluid between flat glass plates is an aid to producing uniform volume gratings in a cylindrical device.
Claims(8) 1. A process comprising the steps of positioning in a supporting structure a mixture of at least two components of respectively differing photopolymerization reactivities and respectively differing optical polarizabilities, partially polymerizing the mixture, writing a pattern in the partially polymerized mixture by exposing it to optical radiation in a corresponding pattern and of a wavelength suitable for the photopolymerization, and fixing the mixture against the subsequent changes in polymerization.
2. A process according to claim 1 in which the positioning step comprises positioning a mixture of at least two components, a first component of which mixture is a monomer having a relatively high photopolymerization reactivity and a relatively high optical polarizability in the polymerized state, and a second component of the mixture is characterized by a substantially lower photopolymerization reactivity than said first component and a substantially lower optical polarizability than said first component, the writing step inducing a two-way diffusion of said components in the presence of the pattern of optical radiation, the writing step being continued long enough to promote diffusions of substantial portions of unpolymerized monomer from the low intensity light regions toward the high intensity light regions where they are subsequently polymerized and to induce diffusion of the second less reactive component from the high intensity light regions toward the low intensity light regions, the fixing step subsequently stabilizing the results of said two-way diffusion.
3. A process according to claim 1 in which the positioning step comprises positioning a mixture of at least two components, a first component of which mixture is a monomer having a relatively high photopolymerization reactivity and a relatively low optical polarizability in the polymerized state, a second component of which mixture is characterized by a substantially lower photopolymerization reactivity than said first component and a substantially higher optical polarizability than the polymerized form of said first component, said writing step being continued long enough to promote a diffusion of the unpolymerized monomer of said first component into regions of relatively high optical radiation intensity from regions of relatively low optical radiation intensity and to promote diffusion of the second component from the regions of relatively high optical radiation intensity toward the regions of relatively low optical radiation intensity, whereby the regions of the highest index of refraction coincide with the regions of relatively lowest optical radiation intensity during the writing step, the fixing step subsequently stabilizing the results of said two-way diffusion.
4. A process according to claim 1 in which the second component of the mixture has essentially negligible photopolymerization reactivity, and the fixing step polymerizes sufficient residual monomer portions of the first component about the concentrations of said second component to maintain the latter in their positions attained during the writing step.
5. A process according to claim 1 in which the two components of the mixture are initially substantially liquid components, the positioning step comprising flowing said components into position in a relatively restricted space of the supporting structure, the initial polymerizing step comprises increasing the viscosity of the mixture sufficiently to prevent flow of said mixture from said restricted space, the writing step promotes the two-way diffusion of the components from distances on the order no greater than the smallest dimension to be resolved in the pattern, and the fixing step includes photopolymerizing at least one component of the mixture to produce a solid matrix of both components retaining the results of the two-way diffusion of the writing step.
6. A process comprising mixing cyclohexyl methacrylate and a substantially comparable molecular proportion of N-vinylcarbazole and a substantially smaller proportion of benzoin methyl ether as a photosensitive initiator, flowing said mixture into position in a supporting structure, initially photopolymerizing partially to increase its viscosity to prevent flow along said supporting structure, writing a pattern of index of refraction into said mixture by exposing it to optical radiation adapted to promote further polymerizing of the cyclohexyl methacrylate, whereby a two-way diffusion of the monomer cyclohexyl methacrylate and N-vinylcarbazole occur, said methacrylate toward regions of highest optical intensity and said N-vinylcarbazole toward regions of lowest optical intensity, and fixing the patterns resulting from the two-way diffusion by a final exposure to uniform optical radiation selected to complete the polymerization of said mixture.
7. A process comprising mixing cyclohexyl methacrylate with a substantial but lesser portion of dimethyl suberate and still lesser proportions of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and benzoin methyl ether as crosslinking monomer and photopolymerization initiator respectively, flowing said mixture into position in a supporting structure, initially the polymerizing of said mixture to increase its velocity and prevent flow along said supporting structure, writing a pattern of index of refraction into said mixture by exposing it to optical radiation selected to polymerize the polymerizable portions of said mixture whereby a two-way diffusion of the cyclohexyl methacrylate and dimethyl suberate is promoted, the former toward the regions of highest radiation intensity and the latter away from regions of highest radiation intensity, and fixing the mixture to preserve the index of refraction pattern resulting from the two-way diffusion by exposing it to optical radiation selected to complete the photopolymerization of the mixture.
8. A process comprising the steps of mixing butyl methacrylate with a substantially comparable molecular proportion of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinking monomer and 1-phenylnaphthalene as a liquid optical inert ingredient of relatively low viscosity and a substantially lesser proportion of benzoin methyl ether as a photosensitive polymerizing initiator, flowing said mixture into place in a supporting structure, initially photopolymerizing said mixture to increase its viscosity to prevent its flow along said supporting structure, writing an index of refraction pattern in said mixture by exposing it to a pattern of optical radiation selected to photopolymerize the monomer portion of butyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, thereby promoting a diffusion of the methacrylates toward the regions of highest optical radiation intensity and a diffusion of the 1-phenylnaphthalene away from the regions of highest optical intensity, and fixing the index of refraction pattern resulting from the two-way diffusion of exposing the mixture to optical radiation selected to complete the photopolymerization.
Description This invention relates to photopolymerization processes directed to the production of optical devices. Since the advent of extensive research involving both analysis and experimental work on integrated optical devices and systems for communication and data processing, procedures for developing devices having a high resolution and index of modulation of a desired pattern of index of refraction have become increasingly desirable. For example, the use of distributed feedback, sometimes called integrated feedback, in lasers is one use of such a pattern of index of refraction. Such a laser can be operated without the need for reflectors external to or applied at the ends of the optical gain medium. Other possible uses include frequency selective filters and related channel-dropping and channel-adding apparatuses. Much prior work has been pursued with photosensitive monomers and polymers to produce desired density or index of refraction modulations in optical devices. The prior proposals which achieved the highest index modulation have employed polymers doped with a monomer or another photo-activated component. These materials are not suitable for use in a closed cavity, or in an elongated restricted space open only at the ends, because of the high viscosity of the initial polymer solution, or because they require the evaporation from the device of some unreacted monomer or other component. Furthermore, the prior photoinduced reactions typically result in a substantial shrinkage; and in a closed cavity with a constant volume this can lead to cracking or the formation of voids. Other prior proposals have employed only monomers, which are of sufficiently low viscosity to flow into confined spaces, and which do not require the evaporation of unreacted components. However, with these materials the achievable modulation of refractive index is insufficient for many applications, and the shrinkage is such that they cannot be used in closed constant-volume cavities. An example of such a closed constant-volume cavity is a distributed feedback laser in which the index pattern is in a thin layer between a central active medium and an outer tubular jacket. The central core and the jacket are preformed and spaced, and provide very great impediment to viscous flow because of their elongation and very small lateral spacings. Even if the ends are not sealed before the index pattern is written, the increasing viscosity of the material during polymerization would prevent shrinkage in the longitudinal direction (if such shrinkage could take place it would distort the desired index pattern), so that a substantially constant-volume process appears desirable to prevent cracking and formation of voids. There are many other applications of photopolymerization in which similar problems of insufficient index change or void formation exist. Our invention is based on our discovery that all of the foregoing problems can be solved by using a mixture of components of relatively low viscosity and differing reactivities and polarizabilities, appropriately positioning the unreacted mixture, partially polymerizing the mixture, imposing the desired index pattern on the mixture by an appropriate pattern of radiation, and, lastly, fixing the mixture to guard against subsequent degradation when used in the presence of radiation. According to one feature of our invention, in the positioning step the mixture of low-viscosity unreacted components including at least one monomer is flowed into place, and the fixing step includes polymerizing all remaining portions of the monomer or monomers. According to another feature of our invention, one or more of the components of the mixture are inert, that is, of zero reactivity, thus reducing the amount by which the mixture would shrink under unrestrained circumstances to the point where it can be used in closed constant-volume cavities without cracking or forming voids. For example, it is sufficient that a smooth surface of the mixture is maintained under slight shrinkage. According to still other features of our invention, three specific examples employ mixtures, respectively, of a high-reactivity monomer, such as a methacrylate, with a lower reactivity monomer or inert ingredient. In one example, the higher reactivity component yields the higher polarizability; while in the other two cases the opposite is true. Further features and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a pictorial sectional view of a distributed feedback laser made according to the invention; FIGS. 2A and 2B are orthogonal cross-sectional views of an optical filter made according to the invention; FIGS. 3A and 3B are orthogonal sectional views of a modified optical filter made according to the invention; FIGS. 4A and 4B are orthogonal sectional views of a channel-dropping filter and detector made according to the invention; FIGS. 5A and 5B are orthogonal sectional views of a typical device in a typical fabrication environment at successive steps of the process according to the invention; FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1 using a so-called single-material fiber; FIG. 7 shows a typical flow chart for the process of the invention; FIG. 8 is a pictorial sectional view of a waveguide-type laser having separate reflective elements employing the invention; and FIG. 9 shows a curve representing scattering efficiency near the Bragg angle in a thin-film grating made according to the invention. The device of FIG. 1 is a distributed feedback laser including a neodymium-ion-doped core glass fiber 11, a surrounding polymer cladding 12 along which there is a periodic index of refraction variation from end to end, and an outer low index-glass cladding 13 which serves to protect the entire structure, to give it rigidity, to ensure guiding in the central portions 11 and 12, and also to support the end caps 14 and 15. In using prior techniques for producing diffraction gratings by photoinduced polymerization or some other photosensitive response of polymers, one encounters various problems with the structure of FIG. 1. Those solutions of doped polymers which will give adequate variation of index of refraction not only are hard to flow in between the core 11 and the outer cladding 13, but in many cases they require the evaporation of a solvent after the materials have been flowed into place. While some monomers having low viscosity can readily be flowed into the restricted space, they do not produce sufficient index change. Undesirable shrinkage of the polymerized medium and formation of cracks and voids are also characteristic of those prior techniques and have made distributed feedback lasers of the type shown in FIG. 1 infeasible. For examples of such prior art, see the article by J. A. Jenney, Journal of the Optical Society of America 60, 1155 (1970); J. A. Jenney, Journal of the Optical Society of America 60, 724A (1970); J. A. Jenney, "Thick Photopolymer Holograms," Research Report No. 427, Hughes Research Laboratories, June, 1970, U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,185 to U. C. Chambers, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,526 to E. F. Haugh. Our new process overcomes these difficulties. A new element of our process is the use of a mixture 12 of components having differing reactivities and, at least in their ultimate forms, differing polarizabilities. The latter properties distinguish it from processes employing single monomer systems and from prior mixtures of monomers. In FIG. 1, the mixture 12 is flowed into place between core element 11 and the capillary or jacket 13. We have achieved index variations of the desired degree with a resolution providing at least 3600 lines per millimeter by the following steps. An initial exposure destroys oxygen and other polymerization inhibitors, thus reducing the required exposure time to the subsequently used pattern of light. Because the initial polymerization tends to hold the mixture in place, it is merely optional to close the cavity between the initial polymerization and the final exposure to a pattern of coherent light. In most practical circumstances, as in FIG. 1, the cavity is effectively closed by the extremely extended, restricted nature of the space that the partially polymerized mixture of monomers has filled between element 11 and jacket 13. When the mixture is irradiated with a periodic pattern of ultraviolet light, for example, in the case of the use of a mixture of N-vinylcarbazole and cyclohexyl methacrylate, further polymerization is initiated in the periodic regions upon which the light falls. Because the polymer has a higher density than the monomer, typically 10-15 percent, shrinkage would normally be expected to occur during polymerization. The polymer is formed preferentially from the higher reactivity monomer. Monomer is being depleted in the irradiated area, causing a concentration gradient that induces the monomer in the adjacent unaffected region to diffuse into the polymerizing region. This sort of diffusion mechanism has been previously explained for a single monomer system by W. S. Colburn et al in Applied Optics 10, 1636 (1971), and by R. H. Wopshall et al, in the Journal of the Optical Society of America, Vol. 61, page 649 (1971). In any event, the prior one-way diffusion mechanism is thought to be significant to the prior systems; but it is just one contributing factor to our invention, inasmuch as we provide a two-way diffusion, which is new. Even if both monomers diffuse together in response to a concentration gradient the net effect is the same as if mainly the higher-reactivity one had diffused toward the high intensity region. As the polymerization proceeds, the volume fraction of polymer in the high intensity areas increases; and the remaining monomer will tend to be excluded from these areas; that is, it now diffuses toward the regions of low light intensity. This diffusion is the second part of the two-way diffusion. Since the remaining monomer mixture has been enriched in the low reactivity monomer, the low light intensity areas will then contain an excess of low reactivity monomer, and the high intensity areas will contain a polymer with an excess of the high reactivity monomer. By this two-way diffusion, we achieve a modulation of the chemical composition of the final fully polymerized material. Since the final chemical constituents that provide this modulation have differing polarizabilities, the refractive index modulation resulting from this modulation of chemical composition tends to be much larger than that resulting from the density effect described above, and can predominate even if the two effects should be in opposite directions. That is, a relatively high polarizability gives the same effect on index of refraction as does relatively high density. Subsequent overall exposure to the fixing light radiation then results in the polymerization in the low density region reaching its end point with lower density than that which the polymerization produced in the region of high light intensity during the generation of the periodic pattern. This single overall final exposure polymerizes all remaining monomers and acts as an image fixing step, yielding an inert composition, at least for the contemplated subsequent uses of the device. It is necessary to postulate the occurrence of a two-way diffusion in order to explain the magnitude and sign of our observed refractive index changes. If the only diffusion were the one-way type found in single component systems (with or without a binder) then the only effect of the second component would be to change the index of the background material. This would not significantly alter the index change achievable by the selective polymerization of the high reactivity component. The large index changes found in our systems, and the signs of those changes, require that the second (less reactive) component be excluded from the regions where polymerization is first induced. Thus, there is a two-way diffusion. To see how a variable composition resulting from the two-way diffusion affects the refractive index, we consider the general connection between molecular parameters and refractive index. The index of refraction of a transparent material is related to its polarizability by the Lorentz-Lorenz relation, ##EQU1## where n is the refractive index and P is the optical polarizability per unit volume. The polarizability can be written in the form ##EQU2## where ρ is the density, No is Avogradro's number, M is the molecular weight, and α is the molecular polarizability. Note that the factor ρNo /M is the molecular density, so that the polarizability per unit volume is simply the product of the molecular polarizability and the molecular density. (In the case of polymers it is customary to consider each repeat unit as a separate molecule.) For an ideal mixture, the total polarizability is given by the sum of the form P = ΣNi αi (3) where Ni is the molecular density of the i'th component of the mixture, and αi is its molecular polarizability. To apply the above expressions to photopolymer materials we assume that the hologram exposure, E, is of the form E = E0 + E1 cos(kx), (4) and that this produces a modulation of the final polymer of the form Na = Na0 + Na1 cos(kx), (5) Nb = Nb0 - Nb1 cos(kx), (6) where Na and Nb are the molecular densities of the high-reactivity and low-reactivity components respectively, and we have neglected any higher spatial harmonics of the molecular distributions. This will result in a modulation of the polarizability of the form P = P0 + P1 cos(kx), (7) where P0 = Na0 αa + Nb0 αb + Nc αc, (8) P1 = Na1 αa - Nb1 αb, (9) Nc is the molecular density of the inert binder (if any), and the α's are the molecular polarizabilities of the various components. For a conventional single monomer model, Nb = 0, so that the sign of P1 is always positive. For out two-monomer model the sign of P1 can be either positive or negative, depending on the relative sizes of the quantities Na1 αa and Nb1 αb. It might seem that the two monomer systems would result in a smaller modulation of the total polarizability because the modulations of Na and Nb are 180� out-of-phase and hence tend to cancel. However, it appears that the two-way diffusion in the two-monomer systems can give considerably larger modulations of the molecular densities than could be sustained in the one-monomer systems. By choosing monomers with appreciably different α's it is then possible to achieve larger values of P1 than have been reported for single-monomer systems. Although the same mechanisms as are involved in one-monomer systems will tend to make Na at least slightly larger than Nb, we expect that the sign of P1 will be determined primarily by the relative sizes of αa and αb. If the high reactivity monomer has the higher molecular polarizability (αa > αb) the sign of P1 will tend to be positive, while αa > αb will tend to result in P1 being negative. An alternate way of interpreting the mechanisms involved in the two-monomer model is in terms of phase equilibria. We are actually dealing with complex nonhomogeneous nonequilibrium systems, so we cannot expect quantitative results, but this approach does give some physical insight into the process. The solubility of polymers in their monomers is frequently quite small, and this solubility decreases for increasing polymer chain length. A system represented by a point below its solubility curve will separate into two phases. The phases will have different polymer concentrations, but typically both phases will contain more solvent than polymer. If the solvent is a mixture of two different solvents, similar phenomena occur, but the two phases can differ markedly in their relative concentrations of the two solvents. To describe our systems in these terms, we begin with a mixture of two solvents (the two monomers) and a polymer volume fraction of zero. We assume that polymerization is initiated in a grating pattern, thus in the bright fringes the polymer fraction will steadily increase. At the same time, the average chain length of the polymer is increasing so that the solubility is decreasing. At some point the system will become unstable, and will attempt to separate into two phases. Because the polymerization has been initiated in a grating pattern, the phase separation will become aligned with the fringes. At the same time as the above processes are happening, the viscosity of the solution is steadily increasing. If, at the point when the system becomes unstable, the viscosity is not too high, substantial phase separation can occur and give a large spatial modulation of the chemical composition of the system. However, the viscosity must also be high enough to keep the pattern stable, and to prevent the formation of random scattering centers. If all these conditions are satisfied, the subsequent increase of the viscosity will "freeze in" the fringe pattern, and the final overall exposure will complete the process to give a photochemically inert material with a spatially modulated composition. From this description it should be clear that the successful operation of the two-monomer systems involves a complex balance of effects, and that detailed predictions are likely to be difficult to achieve. However, the phase equilibrium concepts form a useful framework for discussing the effects of small changes in the system parameters. For example, if a given system shows random phase separation, it may be possible to eliminate this by increasing the intensity of the exposing light so as to increase the rate at which the system passes through the phase separation point. It also may be advantageous that the second monomer polymerizes via an entirely different route than the first, e.g., an ionic or epoxy type reaction instead of a free radical or vinyl type reaction. In all of the above, we have used the terms "high-reactivity monomer" and "low-reactivity monomer" without putting any limits on their relative rates of reactivity. In fact, none of our discussion is changed in the limit that the low-reactivity monomer has zero reactivity. The only requirement is that we have sufficient polymerizable material to produce a stable image. If the high-reactivity monomer is actually a mixture of two similar monomers, one of which leads to crosslinks in the polymer, it is possible to obtain stable images even with relatively large concentrations of inert material. Since a crosslinked polymer is less soluble than a linear polymer of the same material, the addition of crosslinking agents will also affect the rate of phase separation and of the increase of viscosity. The first two-component system we investigated used cyclohexyl methacrylate as the high-reactivity monomer and vinylcarbazole as the low-reactivity monomer. Typical proportions are those of Formula I in Table I. Both monomers polymerize by free radical reactions, with a reported reactivity ratio, under reasonably relevant conditions, of about 40. The refractive indices of the homopolymers are 1.505 for the acrylate, and 1.69 for the carbazole. TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________Formula Number Compound Quantity Function nD__________________________________________________________________________I Cyclohexyl methacrylate 1.0 ml High reactivity monomer 1.505(Two Polymerizable N-Vinylcarbazole 0.3 gm Low reactivity monomer 1.69Components) Benzoin methyl ether 0.125 gm Initiator --II Cyclohexyl methacrylate 1.0 ml Monomer 1.505(Lower Index Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate 0.12 ml Crosslinking monomer --Inert Component) Dimethyl suberate 0.25 ml Inert 1.4325 Benzoin methyl ether 0.06 gm Initiator --III Butyl methacrylate 0.5 ml Monomer --(Higher Index Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate 0.5 ml Crosslinking monomer --Inert Component) 1-Phenylnaphalene 0.5 ml Inert 1.666 Benzoin methyl ether 0.07 gm Initiator --__________________________________________________________________________ By interference microscopy on contact printed patterns, we determined that the refractive index was higher in areas which received less exposure, or that P1 is negative. A negative value of P1 is consistent with our model of two-way diffusion or phase separation, and with the fact that the N-vinylcarbazole has the higher polarizability, and is opposite to that predicted by previous models for single-monomer systems. We carried out a number of experiments, in which we wrote gratings in thin films of various mixtures, between two glass plates, to determine the proportions that give the largest index modulation. For exposure with an average intensity of 2.5 mW/cm2 (λ = 325 nm) Formula I appeared to be about optimum. The optimum exposure time was about five minutes, or a total exposure of �750 mJ/cm2, and the preexposure was necessary for maximum index change. Gratings with 280 nm periods had index modulations with fractional amplitudes of up to 2�10.sup.-3. (This is a peak-to-trough index difference of 0.4 per cent.) None of the foregoing parameters is critical to achievement of an appreciable index difference. After the exposure was complete, the cover slide could be readily removed from the gratings, leaving a smooth hard surface. Even with gratings as thin as 5 μm, the transmitted first order beam was always much stronger than the reflected first order beam. This indicates that they are true volume gratings, with little or no thickness modulation. Gratings observed over a period of several weeks showed no sign of deterioration. In addition to thin film gratings, we also wrote gratings in capillary tubes (i.d. 8-100 μm) filled with the mixture of Formula I. Such capillaries are effectively constant-volume cavities, and the shrinkage during polymerization resulted in random cracking and formation of voids. In the next system we investigated, represented by Formula II in Table I, a completely inert component (dimethyl suberate) was used as the "low-reactivity" monomer, and a small amount of bifunctional monomer was used to give a crosslinked polymer. The suberate has a refractive index nD = 1.4325, so that in this system the high reactivity component, the methacrylate, has the higher polarizability and index of refraction. From contact printed patterns we determined that for this system the refractive index is higher in areas which received more exposure, or that P1 is positive. This is the opposite of that for Formula I, as predicted by our two-way diffusion model. From efficiency measurements on thin-film gratings using the mixture of Formula II we determined that the fractional amplitude of the index modulation was about 2�10.sup.-4. This is probably too small to be of practical use for many applications, but we did obtain some results of interest for understanding the mechanisms of such systems. If we reduced the concentration of the crosslinker, which is ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, to less than about half that of Formula II, we found we could still write gratings, but that they faded away in a few hours. This suggests that the suberate is too good a solvent for the polymer. If the suberate and the polymer are very compatible, we would not expect to get much phase separation, and this is consistent with the observed small index modulation. In fact, it may be that in this system the index modulation results primarily from diffusion of monomer into the high intensity areas, with the two-way diffusion with respect to the suberate only weakly modulating the concentration of this inert (non-polymerizable) component. While the mixture of Formula II has not been optimized, it should be clear that it employs the principles of the invention. It is clear that many more systems can be conceived that will cause both the polarizability and density effects to be additive, and that use of components with a greater index difference than those described here would enhance the effect. The third system we investigated used an inert component with a high refractive index (phenylnaphthalene, nD = 1.666), as shown by Formula III in Table I. We found that we could get stable images, even when the inert component constituted more than one-half of the starting mixture, provided at least one-quarter of the monomer was bifunctional. It is with this system that we achieved the largest index modulations. The proportions and conditions for employing this system proved to be very tolerant of variations. Initially, we tested each formula in a planar geometry (not shown). The space between a microscope slide and a cover slip of thin glass was filled with the monomer mixture by capillary action. In the more practical application of this step to the example of FIG. 1 the microscope slide would be replaced by the outer glass jacket 13 and the cover slips by the internal fiber 11 properly preformed. In either geometry, the monomer mixture would then flow into the space by capillary action or be forced in under pressure. After experimenting with gratings in thin films of a considerable number of different formulations, we found that Formula III gave the largest index change. Fractional modulation amplitudes of up to 7.8�10.sup.-3 were achieved, considerably greater than the 6.7�10.sup.-4 previously reported for systems which are initially liquid, and almost 50% greater than the 5.3�10.sup.-3 reported, for λ = 633 nm, for the best system using a polymeric binder. From contact printed patterns we determined that the index is lowest in the areas which received the highest exposure, or that P1 is negative, in agreement with our two-way diffusion model. With an average flux of �3 mW/cm2 at λ = 325 nm, typical exposure times were 5-15 minutes. (Similar results were achieved for gratings written at λ = 364 nm.) The pre- and post-exposure irradiations with the arc lamp were both desirable in these tests for maximum index modulation. In most cases, we found good agreement between the measured and calculated widths of the angular responses of the gratings. As an example, FIG. 9 shows a theoretical curve of scattering efficiency vs incidence angle, along with experimental data points. The excellent fit, especially in the side lobes, indicates that the grating is quite uniform throughout the thickness of the film. Even a small nonuniformity would have the effect of raising the minima of the response curve. Although the mixture of Formula III gave the largest index modulation, similar results were obtained with mixtures in which some or all of the butyl methacrylate was replaced by cyclohexyl methacrylate, or for total monomer fractions varying from 0.3 to 0.7. It would appear that the solubilities of various methacrylate polymers in phenylnaphthalene are similar, and give rise to a significant phase separation at a concentration where the viscosity is appropriate for achieving a large stable modulation. We can get a rough estimate of the degree of chemical differentiation by comparing the observed index modulation to the maximum possible modulation. Assuming a refractive index of 1.50 for the pure polymers, complete differentiation of the polymer and the inert component would give an index difference of about 0.17 or a fractional modulation amplitude of about 5�10.sup.-2. The experimentally observed amplitudes of over 7�10.sup.-3 indicate that the concentrations of the polymer and of the inert component are probably modulated with fractional amplitudes in excess of 10%. In FIGS. 2A and 2B there is shown another application of our invention, specifically an optical filter adapted for interconnection with an optical fiber system. The first version of the filter includes a grating like optical core 21 made according to the method of the invention, a dielectric jacket 22 and an absorbing body 23 for the filtered radiation that surrounds or substantially surrounds the jacket 22. In the side view of FIG. 2B it may be seen that the assembly further includes a very thin layer of cement or epoxy 24 that bonds the filter assembly to the adjacent ends of the optical fiber transmission link 25 in which the filter is placed. In general the link 25 will include a relatively high-index core 26 and a relatively low-index cladding 27. The cement 24 will have an index typically intermediate these indices; and the mean index of photosensitive medium 21 will be near to that of core 26 of the optical link. The jacket 22 has an index of refraction near to that of cladding 27 of the optical link. It will be noted that the absorber 23 in the illustrative embodiment extends beyond the junction of the filter assembly with the optical link 25 in order to provide greater rigidity and reliability of the interconnection. When gratings were written in hollow fibers (�80 μm i.d.) filled with the mixture of Formula III in Table I, the polymer pulled away from the tube walls, but the resulting surface was sufficiently smooth that light could still be guided in the polymer. To demonstrate the filtering action of such a grating we spliced a 5.25 mm long section of it (Λ = 324 nm) to a liquid core fiber, filled with phenylnaphthalene. Light from a tungsten "point source" was coupled into one end of the fiber using a lens with a numerical aperture of 0.2; and the output light from the other end was focused on the slit of a spectrometer. Because the response of the grating will be sharply peaked in angle, and because in such a highly multimode filter the light will propagate at many different angles, we do not expect to get complete extinction in the stop band of the grating. From theories for thick hologram gratings, we calculate that for plane wave excitation our filter would have a rather rectangular shaped stop band about 6 nm wide, and a peak attenuation of essentially 100 percent. The observed bandwidth of �20 nm indicates that the angular spread of the light in the fiber is contributing a width of �19 nm. This width corresponds to an angular range of 11� or a numercial aperture (n.a.) of 0.29. While the n.a. of the injected light beam was only 0.2, the fiber has an n.a. of over 0.7, and it is quite reasonable to expect some light to be scattered into higher order modes. For a basic filter bandwidth of �6 nm, and an angular range corresponding to a bandwidth of 19 nm, we would expect a peak attenuation of about 6/19 ≈ 30%, which is close to the observed value of 25%. In a single mode or a low n.a. fiber such gratings would have attenuations (reflectivities) close to 100%, and narrower bandwidths could be obtained by reducing the length of the grating or its amplitude. We have also experimented with variations on Formula III in which the total monomer fraction was as low as 17%, and only 25% of the monomer was bifunctional. In constant volume cavities, like those of FIGS. 2A and 2B, such as 80 μm i.d. hollow fibers, stable gratings can be written in these materials without cracking or the formation of voids; but the achievable index changes were as much as a factor of 5 lower than for Formula III. In both fiber and thin-film geometries, the weakly exposed regions at the edges of gratings written in these materials showed a slight haziness. This indicates that a certain amount of random phase separation has taken place, although grating scattering was still observable in these areas. Since there was little or no haziness at the centers of the gratings, where the intensity is highest, it seems likely that increasing the exposing intensity would eliminate the problem of random phase separation. We feel these experiments demonstrate that multicomponent, two-way diffusion photopolymer systems can be successfully used in constant-volume cavities, although the material composition must be carefully selected, and the index changes will be somewhat smaller than can be achieved when some shrinkage can be tolerated. It is also possible to construct the filter in much the same way as the distributed feedback laser of FIG. 1. Such a filter is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Here the core fiber 31 is a passive dielectric illustratively identical to the core 26 of the optical link in which the filter is placed. The photosensitive medium 32 made according to the invention is disposed around core 31 and is generally of lower index than the core; and the dielectric jacket 33 which surrounds it is generally of even lower index. The absorber 23 may be the same as in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the operation of the embodiments of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, those frequencies are filtered out which have multiples of half-wavelengths sufficiently close to the spacing of the maxima or minima of the optical index of refraction variation in the photosensitive medium 22 or 32 for the respective embodiments. Once the energy is no longer guided in the central element or elements of the assemblies it is important that it be absorbed by absorber 23 before it can repropagate into the continuation of the optical fiber link 25. The illustrative structure achieves this result. The filter embodiments of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B may be modified as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B to be an optical detector or receiver simply by placing a detector 43 at one boundary of the filter assembly, for example, at one boundary or limit of the low-index dielectric jacket 42. The photosensitive medium 41 with the grating effect therein is the frequency-selective filter element in this embodiment, as in FIGS. 2A and 2B. That medium is the polymer 41. To increase the efficiency of this assembly as a detector for a selected band or wavelength from the entire range of wavelengths propagating in the fiber link 25, the jacket 42 is surrounded by a reflective coating 45, illustratively a silver coating, to insure that the abstracted wave energy from the fiber link eventually arrives at detector 43 in FIG. 4A. It is assumed that the optical energy is propagating from left to right. The detected light is the back-scattered light from grating 41. The reflector 45 may be extended around the fiber link 25 including core 26 and cladding 27 to improve the coupling to detector 43. In that event an index matching fluid 46 is placed between reflector 45 and cladding 27. In order best to expose the materials in a cylindrical geometry, it is advantageous to insert the parts in an index matching fluid 51 between the flat glass plates 52 and 53, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. As shown in FIG. 5A, two coherent optical beams, illustratively derived from the same laser, as for example, a cadmium ion laser at 3250 A (Angstrom units), may be directed at an appropriate angle 20 with respect to each other to form the interference pattern in the photosensitive medium 32 which comprises a mixture of components of the types disclosed hereinbefore. Various modifications of the foregoing embodiments can be readily achieved. In the fiber laser, the pump light can be guided either in the central core or in the core and the intermediate coating immediately surrounding the core; and the indices of refraction would be accordingly appropriately chosen. The latter alternative may be desired in order to avoid a requirement for a coherent pump source. When using such larger diameter highly multimode guiding, one will observe that the absorption coefficient for the pump light is then larger by approximately the amount of the area ratio of the polymer and the core, assuming that all the active ions are in the core. Nevertheless, with the new high concentration neodymium-ion compounds, this modification will still give realistic absorption distances. For example, a neodymium pentaphosphate crystal having a bulk absorption length α = 100 micrometer at 8000 A and a diameter of about 5 μm in a polymer cladding of diameter 50 μm has an absorption length of 1 cm. This is a reasonable length for such a crystal, for use in a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1. The pumplight in modes with large amplitudes in the core will pump the laser most efficiently. To utilize the pumplight in modes which do not appreciably penetrate the core, it is necessary to have some mode mixing mechanism. If naturally occurring perturbations of the polymer guide are insufficient, one can easily introduce mode mixing by corrugating the inner surface of the cladding. This modification of FIG. 1 will not affect the losses for the laser light guided in the core. This latter laser configuration brings the illumination of the entire pumplight into a small cross section and results not only in a large gain but also in a lower threshold. The 100 μW range for laser threshold by LED pumping does not seem unreasonable for a 1 cm long laser. In addition to the grating's effect on the evanescent field of the laser fiber of FIG. 1 or similar embodiments, we must also consider its effect on the pumplight. The grating will typically scatter pumplight into the cladding (or into the air), but we expect this effect to be relatively weak. For the guided laser light we have essentially a thick Bragg grating used at resonance; hence its efficiency varies as the square of its length. For the pumplight we are far from the Bragg condition and, because of the limited extent of the grating transverse to the fiber axis, the pump loss will vary linearly with length. A grating designed for a 1.06 μm laser with a 0.8 μm pump, and with an amplitude a = 2�10.sup.-3, would produce a pump loss of less than 0.1 dB/cm. The invention may also be used with the new "single material fiber" geometry, as shown in FIG. 6, which is representative of prior single material fiber disclosures. For example, see U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 546,293, filed Feb. 3, 1975, now Reissued U.S. Pat. No. 28,664, for S. E. Miller and assigned to the assignee hereof. The device of FIG. 6 is distinctive in that the central fiber member 61 is neodymium-doped while the supporting plate 62 is undoped but otherwise of the same glassy material. The same is also true of the jacket 63. That is, it is undoped and of the same basic material as element 61 and 62; but it has much larger transverse dimensions than plate 62 and its thickness is also typically greater than the diameters of fiber 61. In this case the polymer 64 which includes the grating like variations in index of refraction along the axis of fiber 61 does not completely surround fiber 61. Plate 62 could also extend completely across jacket 63. In all other respects, the embodiment of FIG. 6 may be made and used in substantially the same way as any of the preceding embodiments. FIG. 7 summarizes the inventive process of the present invention in a flow diagram. First, the two monomers or a mixture of components of distinctly different reactivities and polarizabilities are flowed into the restricted space. If that space is not otherwise sufficiently restricted to avoid loss of material, for example, if it does not provide capillary action, the ends of the space may be closed off to form a closed cavity. The mixture is then partially polymerized to hold the entire assembly together and to provide for the ultimately desired optical resolution. The grating or other index of refraction pattern is written with an appropriate corresponding pattern of radiation; and then any remaining monomers are fully polymerized to fix the mixture. Such polymerization will typically be achieved by a final optical exposure of suitable radiation but could also include other means such as heating to achieve the final polymerization. The embodiment of FIG. 8 is a waveguide laser that differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that positive feedback for producing laser oscillation is provided by separate reflective elements 74 and 75 formed in a mixture 72 of components according to our invention. The active medium is a central element 71 of higher index than jacket 73 and can be like element 11 of FIG. 1. Advantageously, the average index of the fully exposed mixture 72, including portions 74 and 75, may be matched to the index of element 71. The index perturbations in elements 74 and 75 are sufficient to provide reflection if they are spaced at a half-wavelength in the medium 72 of the laser transition of element 71. Element 71 is illustratively crystal or glass body containing neodymium ions. Pumping source 76 is then radiated at 8000 A to pump the laser. Output radiation at 1.05 μm to 1.07 μm is obtained at apparatus 77. The systems we have investigated are all variations on three basic formulas listed in Table I, and all of the components are commercially available. Before use, the liquid monomers were distilled or washed with alkali to remove inhibitors; and the vinylcarbazole of Formula I was recrystallized. The other materials were used as obtained. It is important that the benzoin methyl ether be pure enough to appear colorless. If necessary, the yellow decomposition products can be removed by recrystallization. Thin-film samples were prepared by simply using capillary action to draw the liquid starting material into a space between a microscope slide and a cover glass. This technique gave films with thicknesses in the range of 4-25 μm. A few thicker films were prepared by depositing a small drop of the starting material on a slide and placing a cover slide on top of it. For experiments with quasi-constant volume cavities we used capillary action to fill hollow fibers (8-100 μm inside diameter) with the starting materials. Samples were usually given a brief uniform preexposure, using a Xe-Hg arc lamp. The beam from a 1 kW arc was focused to a 4 cm diameter spot with f/1.5 optics, and samples were exposed to this beam for 5-10 seconds. The preexposure reduces the required grating exposure, by using up dissolved oxygen and any other polymerization inhibitors. It probably also forms a small amount of polymer, which increases the viscosity of the material and aids in stable image formation. Gratings were written by using a He-Cd+ laser (λ = 325 nm) or an Ar+ laser (λ = 364 nm) and an interferometer to produce a high-contrast interference pattern with the desired fringe spacing. Typically the interferometer was set for a period of �400 nm, but we have written gratings with periods as small as 280 nm. The gratings were about 1 cm in diameter, and exposure times of up to 15 minutes were used. Following the grating exposure, the samples were given a second overall exposure with the arc lamp source, typically for 2-15 minutes. For determinations of the sign of the photoinduced refractive index modulation, we made contact prints of a fine metal mesh (80 μm�80 μm holes on 100 μm centers) on the same type samples as were used for gratings. The pre- and post-exposures were the same as for gratings. The mesh exposure was also made with the arc lamp, but through an nD 1.0 filter so as to give an effective intensity similar to that used for the gratings. The mesh was placed on top of the cover slide, and held flat by a quartz slide. Exposure times were about 10 minutes. The completed samples were then examined with a Leitz transmission interference microscope to determine the relative optical thicknesses of the exposed and masked regions. The amplitudes of the index modulations in the gratings were determined from measurements of their scattering efficiencies at λ = 633 nm (transmitted first order). The gratings were mounted on a precision turntable so that in addition to measuring the peak scattering efficiency, we could also measure the absolute incidence angles for peak efficiency, half-peak efficiency and autocollimation. To eliminate complications from multiple reflections within the gratings, the back of the substrate was index-matched to a 1 cm thick transparent slab so as to produce a large displacement of the reflected beams. After the efficiencies were measured, the cover slides were removed, and the absolute thicknesses determined by interference microscopy at the edge of a small hole scraped in the film in the center of the grating region. The amplitude of the index modulation was then determined by a computer fit to all the above data using known theoretical expressions corrected for refraction and reflection losses at the air-dielectric interfaces. The only adjustable parameters are the modulation amplitude and the tilt of the fringes, neither of which has much influence on the width of the curve of efficiency versus incidence angle. The calculated widths were in excellent agreement with the experimental values, indicating that the gratings are quite uniform throughout the thickness of the film. Patent Citations
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Audio Samples
Track List
Album Reviews:
JazzTimes (3/02, p.60) - "...Elemental arrangements of rootsy funk and retro-jazz, fueled by Benoit's expert finger work and hooky songwriting..."
Mojo (Publisher) (7/02, p.102) - "...Antiseptically smooth..."
Album Notes
Personnel includes: David Benoit (arranger, conductor, piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Andy Suzuki (saxophone); Rick Braun (trumpet, programming); Rick Baptist (trumpet); Richard Todd (French horn); Nick Lane, Steve Holtman (trombone); Tim Weisberg (flute); Jon Clark (oboe); Larry Bunker (vibraphone); Neil Angilley (keyboards); Paul Jackson, Jr., Ross Bolton,
Tony Maiden, Pat Kelly, Ian Crabtree (guitar); Abe Laboriel, Stan Sargeant, Phil Mulford, Dean Taba (bass); Steve Ferrone, Jeff Olson (drums); Scott Breadman (timbales); Scott Breadman, Brad Dutz (percussion).
Producers include: David Benoit, Rick Braun, Stuart Wade.
Engineers include: Clark Germain, Steve Sykes, Mick Wilson.
Recorded between April 19 and May 24, 2001.
Personnel: David Benoit (piano); Pat Kelley, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Tony Maiden, Ian Crabtree, Ross Bolton (guitar); Tim Weisberg (flute); Jonathan Clark (oboe); Andy Suzuki (saxophone); Rick Braun (trumpet, programming); Rick Baptist (trumpet); Richard Todd (French horn); Steven Holtman, Nick Lane (trombone); Neil Angilley (keyboards); Larry Bunker (vibraphone); Jeff Olson, Steve Ferrone (drums); Mick Wilson (timbales); Scott Breadman, Brad Dutz (percussion); David Tyler (programming).
Audio Mixers: Clark Germain; Steve Sykes.
Recording information: Brauntosaurus Studio, Woodland Hills, CA (03/27/2001-06/26/2001); Capital A Studio, Hollywood, CA (03/27/2001-06/26/2001); Ocean Way Recording Studio "B", Hollywood, CA (03/27/2001-06/26/2001); O'Henry Sound Studios, Burbank, CA (03/27/2001-06/26/2001); Sonic Sandbaox, San Pedro, CA (03/27/2001-06/26/2001); Village Studios, London, England (03/27/2001-06/26/2001).
Illustrator: Dave Ellis .
Photographer: Rocky Schenck.
Arrangers: David Benoit; Rick Braun; Stuart Wade.
Pianist David Benoit once again delivers a consummate jazz-pop release produced by trumpeter Rick Braun. Braun, who played on Benoit's 1999 Professional Dreamer, does a nice job of updating the piano man's trademark keyboard sound by addressing hip-hop and Latin rhythms. Despite the requisite candlelight noodlings and semi-funk party tracks that Benoit has admittedly popularized, there is much to appreciate here. With its ersatz harpsichord intro, the original "You Read My Mind" is reminiscent of early Bob James, and is a welcome breather from the usual bland jams. Similarly, an irony-free cover of Smashmouth's "Then the Morning Comes" brilliantly recalls the best of Burt Bacharach's '60s output. Fuzzy Math is perfect music for a romantic dinner or shopping a bridal registry at the mall. Either way, Benoit fans will no doubt be pleased. ~ Matt Collar
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Slow-Cooker Stout and Chicken Stew
From EatingWell.com
Chicken thighs can take plenty of cooking without getting tough or drying out, which makes them perfect for the slow cooker. Here we braise them in Guinness stout along with hearty vegetables, with just the right amount of bacon for added savoriness.
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Nutritional Information
(per serving)
Calories | 366 |
Total Fat | 13g |
Saturated Fat | 3g |
Cholesterol | 88mg |
Sodium | 566mg |
Total Carbohydrate | 28g |
Dietary Fiber | 4g |
Sugars | -- |
Protein | 30g |
Calcium | -- |
Ken Burris
Serves: 8
Yields: 8 servings, about 1 1/3 cups each
Total Time: 4 hr
Prep Time: 45 min
U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 6 tablespoon(s) (plus 1/2 cup) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon(s) salt, divided, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
- 2.5 pound(s) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
- 4 teaspoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 piece(s) bacon, chopped
- 1.667 cup(s) (1 14-ounce can) Guinness beer or other stout
- 1 pound(s) whole baby carrots, or large carrots cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 package(s) (8-ounce) cremini or button mushrooms, halved if large
- 2 cup(s) chopped onion
- 4 clove(s) garlic, minced
- 1.5 teaspoon(s) dried thyme
- 1 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cup(s) frozen baby peas, thawed
- Combine 6 tablespoons flour with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Dredge chicken thighs in the mixture to coat completely; transfer to a plate.
- Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken and cook until well browned, 2 to 4 minutes per side; transfer to a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Reduce heat to medium and repeat with the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and chicken thighs. Arrange the chicken in an even layer in the slow cooker.
- Add bacon to the pan and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup flour over the bacon and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes more. Add stout and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour the mixture over the chicken. Add carrots, mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme, spreading in an even layer over the chicken. Pour broth over the top.
- Cover and cook until the chicken is falling-apart tender, 4 hours on high or 7 to 8 hours on low.
- Stir in peas, cover and cook until the peas are heated through, 5 to 10 minutes more. Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.
Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 1 fat Carbohydrate Servings: 1 1/2 Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (200% daily value), Folate & Zinc (23% dv), Vitamin C (22% dv), Potassium (19% dv), Iron (17% dv).
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I work with a group of designers on a project using InDesign. Is there anyway we can automatically assign the name of the person working on it into the Indesign document every time the document is saved along with updating a date field? If we could require the field to be updated on every save that could work also.
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