VUB

VUB is represented by the Department of Applied Physics and Photonics (TONA) which is a local centre of excellence in the domain of optics and micro-photonics. The department hosts 45 researchers whose R&D activities are coordinated by Prof. Hugo Thienpont. It is internationally recognized for its basic, strategic and applied research in the field of "micro-optics" and “micro-photonics”. VUB-TONA is also uniquely involved in industrially-oriented research projects. Recently it was awarded the special status of “Focal Point for Industrial Validation” by the Flemish government for its track record in knowledge transfer and research validation in photonics. A key-expertise of VUB is in optical design, fabrication and quantitative characterization of micro-optical components and modules and their integration in test bed demonstrators for optical data-communication applications. VUB has developed and optimized a unique in-house lithography technology known as deep proton writing. VUB also includes a micro-optical fibre sensor team that has built up a renowned expertise in all-fibre solutions for optical sensing applications, based on Bragg grating enhanced micro-structured fibres. The department masters the numerical simulation and design of these novel micro-photonic structures and is fully equipped to measure the sensitivities of the developed micro-sensors to external perturbations such as strain, temperature and bending.