Photonics and Nonlinear Optics With Molecular and Polymeric Materials

摘要

The work under this AASERT grant focused on the development of novel photonics materials. The emphasis was on the preparation of nanoscale composites. which in the bulk form are of high optical quality. A major focus is to prepare organic: inorganic nanocomposites. Er doped glasses are widely used for amplification and lasing at 1.5 micrometers. We have successfully prepared Er(3-) doped multicomponent sol gel glasses with an objective to use them as amplifiers. IR lasers and upconversion lasers. They show enhanced radiative properties and strong upconversion. The ability to use semiconductor nanocrystals as a sensitizer in an otherwise entirely organic photorefractive composite has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the figures of merit associated with this composite (PVK:TCP:NPP:CdS NCs) are of sufficient magnitude to qualify this composite as a 'high-gain material'. In addition to the validation of this approach we have also achieved. for the first time, the photorefractive effect in a polymeric composite at 1310 nm. demonstrating the technological merits of this approach.