SBIR Phase I: Hydrothermal Growth Strontium Beryllium Borate (SBBO) for deep UV Nonlinear Optical Applications.

什么？这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是由一家公司在一个独特的单晶生长领域的发展所代表的，该领域解决了固态激光器的需求。单晶生长代表了现代材料技术的一个小而高度专业化但绝对重要的领域。固态激光器在商业上至关重要，因为它们紧凑，耐用，相对便宜，并且可以在许多技术中现场部署。单晶是固态激光器的重要组成部分，因此具有巨大的商业潜力。 该项目将提高用于固态激光器的高质量单晶专业制造商的技能。它代表了短波长固态激光器尚未满足的商业需求，也将扩大单晶种植者的技术技能。最后一点尤其重要，因为美国在固态激光器生产方面严重缺乏技能、技术和基础设施，这使得美国越来越依赖于基本材料的海外供应商。该计划将帮助培训美国下一代关键材料制造专家。拟议项目旨在解决称为硼酸锶（SBBO）的新单晶的开发。这些晶体是制造在266 nm及以下发射激光的短波长固态激光器的一种使能技术。这种激光器具有许多潜在的应用，但目前还没有能够在这些非常短的波长下实现实际性能的材料。这一缺陷代表了一个重要的商业机会。该项目将研究使用水热合成生产新材料的单晶以满足这一需求，水热合成使用高压下的极热水作为生长环境。在这个第一阶段的项目中，将进行研究，以开发这种重要材料的大单晶的生长方案，将完善原料，并生产籽晶。将优化运输条件，并确定适当的温度梯度。对晶体质量进行初步评价。合适的晶体将被送到激光制造业的合作者那里，用于固态短波长激光器的初步生产。第一阶段计划中的晶种和生长方案将用于第二阶段项目，以开发这种晶体的全规模商业制造工艺。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The?broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is represented by the development of a company in a unique field of single crystal growth addressing needs in solid-state lasers. Single crystal growth represents a small and highly specialized, but absolutely essential, area of modern materials technology. Solid-state lasers are commercially vital because they are compact, durable, relatively inexpensive, and field deployable in many technologies. Single crystals are essential components to solid-state lasers and thereby represent significant commercial potential. This project will enhance the skill set of specialty manufacturers of high quality single crystals for solid-state lasers. It represents an unmet commercial need in short wavelength solid-state lasers and also will expand the technological skill set of single crystal growers. This last point is especially important, as there is a serious lack of skills, technology and infrastructure in solid state laser production in this country, and this makes the US increasingly dependent on offshore suppliers of essential materials. This program will help train the next generation of critical materials manufacturing experts in the US.The proposed project intends to address the development of new single crystals called Strontium Beryllium Borate (SBBO). These crystals are an enabling technology for the manufacture of short wavelength solid-state lasers lasing at and below 266 nm. Such lasers have many potential applications but at present there are no materials capable of practical performance at these very short wavelengths. This shortcoming represents a significant commercial opportunity. The project will examine production of single crystals of a new material to meet this need using hydrothermal synthesis, which employs very hot water at high pressures as a growth environment. In this Phase I project, research will be undertaken to develop a growth protocol of large single crystals of this vital material, A feedstock will be perfected, and seed crystals will be produced. Transport conditions will be optimized, and suitable temperature gradients will be identified. Preliminary evaluation of crystal quality will be performed. Suitable crystals will be sent to collaborators in the laser manufacturing industry for preliminary production of solid-state short wavelength lasers. The seed crystals and growth protocols from the research in this Phase I program will be used in a Phase II project for development of a full-scale commercial manufacturing process for this crystal.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.