Richard H. Selfridge
Assistant Professor,
Electrical and Computer Engineering
PhD, University of California--Davis, 1984
EMail: selfridge@ee.byu.edu
Research Interests
Since his arrival at Brigham Young University, Dr. Selfridge
has established a laboratory dedicated to fiber-optic and
electro-optic materials and device research. Both experimental work
and analyses have been performed on guided wave nonlinear optical
phenomena and devices. In particular, research efforts have focused
on using D-shape fibers as a basis for integration of passive and
active devices in the fiber-optic environment. In addition, he and
his students are investigating low-frequency acoustic scattering and
computer visualization tools.
Research Description
Dr. Selfridge and his students are developing a technique for
producing diffraction gratings on the flat surface of a D-shape fiber.
The diffraction grating provides a means for other fibers or devices
to interact with optical signals propagate in the core of the fiber.
Placement of phototransmitters and receivers on the fiber to allow
sending and receiving of optical signals to and from the fiber without
having to break the fiber is being investigated in cooperation with
Hughes. In addition, he and his students have coated D-fibers with
non- linear optical films to create frequency doubling of light inside
of an optical fiber. Continuing efforts are being pursued to enhance
the efficiency of the frequency doubling process with the goal of
producing a compact source of high-frequency laser light. Also
Dr. Selfridge is investigating the extension of the geometric theory
of diffraction (GTD) to low- frequency acoustic scattering.
The research efforts include development of theoretical and
numerical techniques to predict the behavior of optical signals in
fibers as well as the properties of low-frequency acoustic signals. A
particularly powerful design and analysis tool is being developed
under support from the IBM visualization project. In this project
intensive numerical models are used to produce detailed graphical
displays of complex optical and acoustic wave behavior.