GOALI: High-Power Optical Materials for Micro- and Nanofabrication

这个项目的目的是加深我们对限制激光和非线性光学(NLO)晶体高功率和短波长运转的性质的理解。此外，还将开发新的和改进的材料。目前，非线性光学材料缺乏高双折射和高透明度的合适组合，限制了直接二次谐波转换到深紫外光和真空紫外光。在未来，非线性吸收和热性能很可能成为在非常高的功率水平下性能的限制因素。为了研究和解决这些材料问题，我们将研究几种宽带隙氧化物的光学和热学性质。我们将研究高透明度非线性光学晶体的线性光学性质、导热系数和热光系数，这种晶体可以直接二次谐波转换到200 nm以下的波长，也可以通过混频产生可调谐的VUV光。在固体激光器中产生高功率激光在很大程度上是一个热管理问题。固体激光输出功率和效率的大幅提高当然可以通过将Yb3+的小能量缺陷发射结合到非常高的导热系数主体中来实现。为了实现这一性能的结合，将研究和开发几种富含Y203和BeO的新材料。将对发射的Yb3+离子进行详细的光谱检查；将生长大的单晶；将评估热导率；并将建立激光性能。拟议计划的影响远远超出光学科学和工程，因为这项工作与目前电子和电信行业生产的大多数高科技设备的制造和微加工直接相关。此外，在未来，这类激光系统将通过制造微电子机械装置(MEMS)、微型电化学系统(MECs)和其他小型光子和生物装置，在将微米、纳米、介观和微尺度功能与我们的日常世界连接起来方面发挥重要作用。拟议的项目对科学和工程领域的人力资源开发也是重要的；该领域正在迅速增长，需要有经验的科学家和工程师。该项目涉及来自学术界和工业界不同学科的研究人员的国际集合。研究生和本科生将接触到材料和激光科学的许多不同领域，提供独特的研究和教育机会。

The purpose of this project is to advance our understanding of the properties that limit both high-power and short-wavelength operation of laser and nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals. In addition, new and improved materials will be developed. At present, lack of a suitable combination of high birefringence and high transparency in NLO materials is limiting direct second-harmonic conversion to deep UV and VUV wavelengths. In the future, nonlinear absorption and thermal properties are likely to become limiting factors for performance at very high-power levels. To study and address these materials issues, the optical and thermal properties of several wide bandgap oxides will be examined. Linear optical properties, thermal conductivity, and thermo-optic coefficients will be studied for high-transparency nonlinear optical crystals that will allow either direct second-harmonic conversion to wavelengths shorter than 200 nm or frequency mixing for generation of tunable VUV light.The production of high powers in solid-state lasers is largely a thermal-management issue. Substantial improvements in solid-state laser output powers and efficiencies are certainly attainable by incorporating the small energy-defect emission of Yb3+ in a very high thermal-conductivity host. To achieve this combination of properties, several new materials that are rich in Y203 and BeO will be studied and developed. Detailed spectroscopic examinations will be made on the emitting Yb3+ ion; large single crystals will be grown; thermal conductivities will be assessed; and laser properties will be established.The effects of the proposed program extend well beyond optical science and engineering, as the work has direct relevance to manufacturing and micromachining of most of the high-technology devices that are currently being produced in the electronics and telecommunications industries. Moreover, in the future, such laser systems will play important roles in connecting pico-, nano-, meso-, and microscale functions to our everyday world through the fabrication of microelectromechanical devices (MEMs,) microelectrochemical systems (MECs,) and other small photonic and biodevices.The proposed project is also important for the development of human resources in science and engineering; the area is growing rapidly and experienced scientists and engineers are needed. The program involves an international collection of researchers from a variety of disciplines in both academia and industry. Graduate and undergraduate students will be exposed to many different areas of the materials and laser sciences, providing unique research and education opportunities.