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

*9760642雷诺这个第一阶段小型企业创新研究项目旨在开发一种新颖的、高度通用的激光和非线性光学晶体系列，可以克服传统技术的限制。这些材料是多功能的，表现出许多独特的性质，包括稀土激光离子和过渡金属激光离子掺杂的隔离位置，高效的非线性光学材料，高损伤阈值，宽透明范围，以及作为自倍频激光器的功能。在第一阶段，提出者将通过制备光学质量较小的晶体并评估其光学性质来证明其可行性。其中最有希望的材料将在第二阶段进行优化，为第三阶段的商业化做准备。工业和政府机构在这项研究上投入了大量的时间和金钱，显然需要新的光学材料。虽然已经为特定的应用开发了许多材料，但新兴的技术需要具有特定性质的新的光学材料。新型激光材料和非线性光学(NLO)材料的发展对光电子产业的发展至关重要。具体地说，需要工作在蓝光和紫外光波长、波长可调、更紧凑、更坚固、效率比传统技术更高的激光系统。开发的材料将用于材料加工、光存储、平板显示技术以及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. ***