Acquisition of Alexandrite Laser for Nonlinear Optical Materials Research

提供资金用于购买用于非线性光学(NLO)材料研究的紫翠宝石激光器。该大学正在执行一项长期计划，大幅升级其激光/非线性光学研究实验室，以支持以下两个领域的研究活动：(I)用于光开关、光学计算和光功率限制应用的高度光折变非线性光学材料的三阶磁化率的表征；(2)用于光谱可调固态激光器、被动Q开关和锁模器的伽马辐照色心和感兴趣的杂质掺杂晶体的特性研究。目前可用的激光器仅限于特定的固定波长和时间脉冲形状。波长和时间脉宽可变的激光光源是本实验室进行非线性光学材料研究的必要条件。该仪器对加强本科生和研究生参与实验室的教育也是有益的。

Funds are provided for the purchase an Alexandrite laser for nonlinear optical (NLO) materials research. The University is following a long-term plan to significantly upgrade its Laser/NLO Research Laboratory to support research activities in two areas (i) characterization of the third-order susceptibility of highly photorefractive NLO materials of interest for optical switching, optical computing, and optical power limiting applications; and (2) research into the properties Of gamma-irradiated color centers and impurity doped crystals of interest for spectrally tunable solid-state lasers, passive Q-switches, and mode-lockers. The currently available lasers are limited to certain fixed wavelengths and temporal pulse shapes. A laser source with a variable wavelength and temporal pulse width is a necessity for NLO materials research being performed in this laboratory. The instrument also is useful for enhancing the education of the undergraduate and graduates students who participate in the laboratory.