SBIR Phase I: Highly Efficient Solid-State Crystals for Lasers and Nonlinear Optics

* 9760642雷诺兹 第一阶段的小型企业创新研究项目旨在开发一种新颖且高度通用的激光和NLO晶体系列，可以克服传统技术的局限性。 这些材料是多功能的，并表现出许多独特的性能，包括，与稀土激光离子和过渡金属激光离子掺杂的隔离位点，高效的非线性光学材料，高损伤阈值，宽的透明度范围，并作为自倍频激光器的功能。在第一阶段，提议者将通过制备小型光学质量晶体并评估其光学特性来证明可行性。 这些材料中最有前途的将在第二阶段进行优化，为第三阶段商业化做准备。从工业界和政府机构投入的大量时间和金钱来看，对新光学材料的需求显而易见。 虽然许多材料已被开发用于特定应用，但新兴技术需要具有特定性能的新光学材料。 光子学产业的发展至关重要的是新的激光材料和非线性光学（NLO）材料的开发。 具体地，需要在蓝光和UV波长下操作的激光系统，其是波长可调谐的、更紧凑的、坚固的，并且具有比传统技术更高的效率。 开发的材料将用于材料加工、光学存储器、平板显示技术和眼科手术等医疗应用。 ***

*** 9760642 Reynolds This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research project aims to develop a novel and highly versatile family of laser and NLO crystals that may overcome the limitations of conventional technology. These materials are multifunctional and exhibit a number of unique properties that include, isolated sites for doping with rare-earth laser ions and transition metal laser ions, efficient nonlinear optical materials, high damage thresholds, wide transparency range, and function as a self-frequency doubling laser. In Phase I, the proposer will demonstrate feasibility by preparing small optical quality crystals and evaluate their optical properties. The most promising of these materials will be optimized in Phase II, in preparation for Phase III commercialization. The need for new optical materials is clearly evident from the substantial amount of time and money being devoted to this research by industry and government agencies. Although many materials have been developed for specific applications, emerging technologies require new optical materials with specific properties. Essential to the growth of the photonics industry is the development of new laser materials and nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Specifically there is a need for laser systems that operate at blue and UV wavelengths, are wavelength tunable, more compact, rugged, with improved efficiencies over conventional technology. The materials developed will be used in materials processing, optical memory storage, flat panel display technology, and medical applications such as eye surgery. ***