High-quality planar waveguides were obtained and studied, and a modulator of an entirely new type was proposed, based on the polarization properties of waveguides produced through proton exchange.

The modulator is patented [S. Tonchev and M. Kuneva, “Integrated-optical Mach-Zehnder modulator”, Bularian patent nr. 63788, 03.01.2003] (uploaded to NASA’s website).

CURRICULUM VITAE

Assoc. Prof. Mariana K. Kuneva, Ph.D.

Institute of Solid State Physics

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

72 Tzarigradsko Chaussee Blvd

Sofia 1784, Bulgaria

Phone: (359)(2) 9795728

E-mail: m_kuneva@yahoo.com

Education:

Ph.D. in Physics, 1997, thesis - “Planar optical waveguides obtained by proton exchange in LiNbO₃and LiTaO₃”, Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Graduated (1981) from The Studio of Fine Arts “Vladimir Dimitrov – the Master”, (1977-1981), Sofia
M.S. in Engineering Physics, 1978, Sofia State University “St. Climent Ohridsky”, Department of Physics, with major in Quantum Electronics and Laser Technique, thesis - “Generation of vacuum-ultraviolet radiation by four-photon mixing in metal vapors”.
Graduated from Russian Language High School, Sofia, 1973

Experience:

1988-Present

Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Staff Research Scientist (Research Associate).

Development of proton-exchange technology in lithium niobate and lithium tantalate for improving the control of waveguide layers composition and obtaining waveguides with definite parameters (refractive index change, optical profile, phase composition) according to the specific device requirements.
Supervision of MS-students.

2010-Present

Guest lecturer at the Department of Physics of the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia.

· Physics practice for students in civil engineering.

· Lectures in physics for a preparative course in English.

1998

Honeywell HTC ATS, Phoenix, AZ.

Subcontractor (Engineer).

Testing and control services of device having IO-chip.

1978-1988

Institute of Special Optics, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Design Engineer.

Metal vapor lasers design and development.
Literature and patent searches for different laser projects.
Part-time associate at the Information Department.

National Projects (Ministry of Science and Education):

Ф-824: 1999-2001

“Instabilities in H_xLi_1-xMO₃ (M=Nb,Ta) planar optical waveguides”

Ф714 , 1997-99

“Diffraction gratings – applications in linear and non-linear optics”

Ф-419: 1995-1997

“Optical and structural characteristics of thin-layer waveguides in ferroelectric crystals

LiNbO₃, LiTaO₃ and KTiOPO₄”

Ф-57: 1992-1995

“Development of new low-temperature processes for obtaining of planar optical

waveguides”

Ф-29, 1991-4

“Optimization of relief diffraction gratings”

Contract 114: 1987-1991

“Study and measurement of optical waveguide layers and structures”

International Experience:

VI EU Framework-Project, 2004-2008, Network of Excellence: (3DTV) Integrated Three-dimensional Television – Capture, Transmission and Display; Contract No. 511568.
COPERNICUS-Project, COP 959, 1995-99: Mobile communication systems on the base of solid state elements.
NATO-Project, HTECH.LG 961117, 1996-98: Structure of thin solid films. Linear and non-linear interactions.
Specialization in the Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Novosibirsk, Russia, 1989, 1990.

Research:

integrated-optical technologies in LiNbO₃, LiTaO₃and other elеctro-optical crystals;
optical measurement technique for waveguide and material characterization;
characterization of optical materials in terms of their application for waveguiding;
physical and chemical phenomena responsible for the formation of waveguide layers;
material science – phase transitions, diffusion processes in solids;
IR and Ra spectroscopy, XPS;
optimizing of technological processes for proton-exchanged waveguides;
integrated-optical modulators – design and technology;
metal vapor lasers – design, testing and development.

Publications:

Author and coauthor of over 50 scientific papers, a patent, 29 books.

Memberships:

Bulgarian Physical Union (since 1979),
IBC Advisory Council - Cambridge (since 1998),
ABI Board of Advisors (since 2000).
Founding member of the ABI International Women’s Review Board (since 2008)
Bulgarian Crystallographic Society (since 2009, founding member)

(IBC – International Biographical Center

ABI – American Biographical Institute)

Languages:

English – fluent spoken and written
Russian – fluent spoken and written
Bulgarian - native

Selected publications:

Papers:

1. M. Kuneva:

Bibliographical review on vibration spectroscopy of proton exchanged LiNbO₃ and

LiTaO₃

Trends in Applied Spectroscopy, vol. 11, 2014-2015, pp.73-89,

ISSN: 0972-4516

2. M. Kuneva:

Surface phase detection of proton-exchanged layers in LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ by IR reflection spectroscopy,

Bulgarian Chemical Communications, 45 (4), 2013, pp. 474-478

ISSN: 0324-1130

3. M. Kuneva, K. Christova, S. Tonchev:

Phase composition and stress in LiTaO₃ proton-exchanged optical waveguides,

EPL, 103 (2013) 67008

ISSN (printed): 0295-5075. ISSN (electronic): 1286-4854

4. M. Kuneva:

Rare-earth doped optical waveguides in LiNbO₃,

Bulgarian Chemical Communications, 44, ( Pros. Issue), 2012, pp. 108-113

ISSN: 0324-1130

5. M. Kuneva, K. Christova, S. Tonchev:

LiNbO₃ proton-exchanged waveguide layers: phase composition and stress,

EPL, 95 (2011) 67005

Doi: 10.1209/0295-5075/95/67005

ISSN (printed): 0295-5075. ISSN (electronic): 1286-4854.

6. M. Kuneva, S. Tonchev:

Spectroscopy of optical waveguiding layers

Bulgarian Chemical Communications, 43 (2), 2011, pp. 276-287

7. M. Kuneva, S. Tonchev, D. Nesheva, P. Atanasov:

Proton-exchanged waveguiding layers in Y-cut lithium niobate: analysis of the phase

composition by spectroscopic methods

Solid State Sciences, 12, 2010, pp. 1870-1872

8. N. Maneva, M. Kuneva, and Th. Barthel:

Samarium as activator in cerium dioxide

J. Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, 9 (2), 2007, pp. 296-298

9. M. Kuneva, S. Tonchev, and P. Atanasov:

Infrared spectra of proton-exchanged waveguides in LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃

Mat. Sci. Eng. B, 118 (1-3), 2005, pp.301-305

10. M. Kuneva, S. Tonchev, E. Thatsi, and D. Lampakis:

Phase composition of proton-exchanged waveguides in LiNbO3: a

spectroscopic study

J. Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, 7 (1), 2005, pp. 549-552

11. M. Kuneva and V. Krastev:

XPS-investigation of proton-exchanged waveguides in LiNbO₃

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 11, 2000, pp. 629-632.

12. S. Tonchev and M. Kuneva:

New integrated-optical Mach Zehnder modulator

Proc. SPIE, vol. 3950 (Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits IV), 2000, pp. 246-251

Books:

1. Д. Христов, М. Кънева:

„Количествената история на Софийския университет „Св. Климент

Охридски” 1888-1939, записана в биобиблиографиите на неговите

преподаватели, т. I”,

Изд. Фараго, София, 2014, 323 стр., 2 ил., 189 табл.

ISBN 978-954-2961-82-6

2. М. Кънева:

“Дисертацията на Димитър Мутев „За психрометрията”,

Изд. Фараго, София, 2014, 176 стр., 2 ил., 23 табл.

ISBN 978-954-2961-96-3

3. Д. Христов, М. Кънева, В. Тенева, Н. Стоилова, З. Добрева, Р. Горгоров, Д.

Христов:

„Началото на българската математическа наука I. Тетранионите на

Емануил Иванов (Сборник)”,

Университетско издателство „Св. Кл. Охридски”, София, 2013, 199 стр., 3 ил.

ISBN 978-954-07-3579-5

4. В. Тенева, Д. Христов, Е. Бранкова, В. Тодоров, Р. Горгоров, З. Добрева, М.

Кънева, Н. Стоилова, Ц. Физиева:

„Началото на българската математическа наука II. Първите публикации на

български математици, реферирани във Forschr. d. Math. (1903-1913)

(Сборник)”,

Университетско издателство „Св. Кл. Охридски”, София, 2013, 131 стр.

ISBN 978-954-07-3580-1

5. Д. Христов, Н. Делчева, В. Тенева, З. Добрева, М. Кънева, Р. Горгоров:

„Началото на българската математическа наука III. Физ.-мат. д-во в София

и неговото Списание (Сборник)”,

Университетско издателство „Св. Кл. Охридски”, София, 2013, 157 стр., 7 ил.

ISBN 978-954-07-3581-8

6. Д. Христов, Е. Добрева, Ц. Бузова, М. Кънева, Н. Бъчварова, Ц. Чолова, А.

Николова, Н. Кочев, М. Бъчваров, Б. Пейчев и др.:

„Физиката в България. Том I” ,

Изд. Фараго, София, 2013, 125 стр., 4 ил.

ISBN 978-954-2961-58-1

7. В. Баева, Д. Христов, М. Кънева:

„Математикът от Нова Загора Георги Стоянов 1872-1912”,

Изд. Фараго, София, 2012, 77 стр., 4 ил.

ISBN 978-954-2961-31-4

8. Д. Христов, М. Къневa:

„Манол Михайлов, началник канцеларията на Софийския университет „Св.

Климент Охридски”,

Изд. Фараго, София, 2012, 121 стр., 1 ил.

ISBN 978-954-2961-29-1

9. O. Ivanov, M. Kuneva:

“Quality control methods based on electromagnetic field-matter interactions”,

In Application and Experience of Quality Control, (ed. O. Ivanov), published by INTECH, Vienna, 2011, ISBN 978-953-307-236-4, pp. 510-536

10. Д. Христов, Е. Добрева, Ц. Бузова, М. Кънева, Х. Дарева и др.:

„Физиката в България, т. II: Библиография 1889-1960. Наука. Образование.

Просвета.”,

Изд. Фараго, София, 2011, 221 стр., 4 ил.

ISBN 978-954-2961-04-8

11. В. Тодоров, В. Тенева, Д. Христов, Е. Бранкова, М. Кънева:

„Встъпителните лекции на новоназначените доценти по математика 1909-1963”,

Унив. Издателство „Св. Кл. Охридски”, София 2010, 279 стр., 279 стр., 36 ил.

ISBN 978-954-07-2982-4

12. D. Christov, V. Todorov, E. Brankova, V. Teneva, S. Zlateva, M. Apostolova, M.

Kuneva, R. Gorgorov:

“The contribution of the University of Sofia “St. Kliment Ohridsky” to mathematics

1904-1939”,

Ed. M. Kuneva,

University of Sofia Publishers, Sofia 2009, 83 pgs., 7 ill.

ISBN 978-954-07-2981-7

13. Г. Петров, И. Петков, А. Алексиев, М. Кънева, С. Кирилова, Л. Дашовска, Ц. Бузова, Е.

Добрева, Д. Христов:

„1886 година – начало на Българската химическа наука, поставено от Пенчо Н. Райков. Сборник”,

Ред. Д. Христов, Изд. Фалкор Консулт, София 2006, 250 стр., 28 ил.

ISBN-10: 954-342-009-2, ISBN-13: 978-954-342-009-4

14. М. Кънева:

„Сборник проф. Кънчо Кънев, 1927-2000”,

Ред. Д. Христов, Изд. Фактум, София 2005, 227 стр., 53 ил.

ISBN 954-8107-45-7

Patent:

S. Tonchev and M. Kuneva,

"Single-strip integrated-optical Mach-Zehnder modulator",

BG Patent, No. 63788, Bull. No.12 , 29.12.2002