Superior Nonlinear Optical Single Crystals and An Open-Source Modeling Package for Classical and Quantum Light Generation

卓越的非线性光学单晶和用于经典和量子光生成的开源建模包

• 批准号: 2210933
• 负责人: Venkatraman Gopalan
• 金额: $ 48.5万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2025-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2210933&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Superior; Nonlinear; Optical; Single; Crystals

Nontechnical Description. Lasers have transformed the science and technological landscape since the first was built in 1960. Lasers enable fundamental science from the atomic scale to astronomical and have numerous applications, such as information storage and retrieval, medical imaging and surgery, environmental monitoring, and aviation, to name a few. For such a broad array of uses, it is important to span a broad electromagnetic spectrum of frequencies (colors), ranging from x-rays and the ultraviolet, through the visible and the infrared and beyond. However, lasers are designed to emit light only within a few narrow windows of frequencies. So, how can such a broad tunable electromagnetic spectrum be obtained? The answer lies in the field of nonlinear optics, where specialized materials combine and split photons of various colors to generate new photons with different colors, a process called nonlinear frequency conversion or harmonic generation. We are now at the threshold of a new era of quantum communications that employs quantum entanglement of two photons that Einstein called “spooky action at a distance.” Such secure internet lines are considered critical for national security, from protecting power grids, distribution networks for water and food, and the financial system. Entangled photons are generated by splitting a photon into two using nonlinear optical crystals. This needs nonlinear optical crystals superior to those presently in use. In particular, there is a lack of materials that function in the infrared and the ultraviolet. The project will address the grand materials challenge of finding new nonlinear optical crystals with superior properties. The PI will also communicate the excitement and fundamentals of these amazing optical and quantum phenomena and work to help develop a diverse, able workforce to meet these technology challenges.Technical Description. The central goal of this project is to synthesize and characterize nonlinear optical single crystals with compositions that optimize the highest second order nonlinear optical coefficients with the largest transparency towards efficient frequency conversion. The project has two primary thrusts. First, under the theme of Beyond Powders towards Single Crystals, investigators will perform theory-guided identification, synthesis, and comprehensive linear and nonlinear optical tensors determination of the most promising nonlinear optical single crystals suggested by theory and experimental literature on powders. The second thrust is on Nonlinear Modeling and Light Frequency Conversion. In characterizing such higher ranked tensor properties in nonlinear optics, accurate modeling of the experimental data is critical; analytical modeling tools for this are currently absent. The project is developing an open-source code for predicting and accurately modeling the experimental nonlinear optical response from these crystals. Nonlinear frequency conversion devices are being explored for the most promising crystal compositions. The project is working towards demonstrating at least a dozen new single crystals, as well developing as an open-source modeling package. The project funds the training of two graduate and one undergraduate student every year towards a diverse and inclusive workforce in the area of optical materials and technologies. The students have an opportunity to learn and develop crystal growth as well as a full suite of nonlinear optical characterization and modeling tools. Strong outreach and engagement with underrepresented student groups occurs through engagement with partner institutions.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.

非技术性描述。自1960年建造第一台激光以来，激光已经改变了科学和技术的面貌。激光使基础科学从原子尺度到天文学，并有许多应用，如信息存储和检索、医学成像和外科手术、环境监测和航空，仅举几例。对于如此广泛的用途，重要的是跨越广泛的频率(颜色)的电磁频谱，从X射线和紫外线，到可见光和红外线以及更远的地方。然而，激光器被设计成只能在几个狭窄的频率窗口内发光。那么，如何才能获得如此宽广的可调电磁频谱呢？答案在于非线性光学领域，即特殊材料将各种颜色的光子组合并分割，以产生不同颜色的新光子，这一过程被称为非线性频率转换或谐波产生。我们现在正处在一个新的量子通信时代的门槛上，这个时代利用了两个光子的量子纠缠，爱因斯坦称这种纠缠为“远距离的诡异行为”。这种安全的互联网线路被认为对国家安全至关重要，从保护电网、水和食品的分配网络到金融体系。纠缠光子是通过使用非线性光学晶体将一个光子一分为二而产生的。这就需要比目前使用的更好的非线性光学晶体。特别是，缺乏在红外线和紫外线中起作用的材料。该项目将解决材料方面的重大挑战，即寻找具有优异性能的新型非线性光学晶体。PI还将交流这些令人惊叹的光学和量子现象的兴奋和基本原理，并努力帮助发展一支多样化的、有能力的劳动力队伍，以应对这些技术挑战。该项目的中心目标是合成和表征非线性光学单晶，其组成优化了具有最大透明度的最高二阶非线性光学系数，从而实现了高效的频率转换。该项目有两个主要推动力。首先，在“超越粉末走向单晶”的主题下，研究人员将对粉末理论和实验文献所提出的最有前途的非线性光学单晶进行理论指导的识别、合成以及线性和非线性光学张量的综合测定。第二个重点是非线性建模和光频转换。在描述非线性光学中这种高阶张量性质时，实验数据的准确建模是至关重要的；目前还缺乏这方面的分析建模工具。该项目正在开发一种开源代码，用于预测和准确模拟这些晶体的实验非线性光学响应。人们正在探索非线性频率转换装置，以获得最有前途的晶体成分。该项目正致力于展示至少12种新的单晶，并开发一个开源建模包。该项目每年资助两名研究生和一名本科生的培训，以便在光学材料和技术领域建立一支多样化和包容性强的劳动力队伍。学生们有机会学习和开发晶体生长以及一整套非线性光学表征和建模工具。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Generalized analytical and numerical modeling of optical second harmonic generation in anisotropic crystals and complex heterostructures using ♯SHAARP package

使用 SHAARP 软件包对各向异性晶体和复杂异质结构中的光学二次谐波产生进行广义分析和数值建模

• DOI: 10.1117/12.2676223
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: SPIE
• 作者: Zu, Rui;Wang, Bo;He, Jingyang;Weber, Lincoln;Wang, Jianjun;Chen, Long-Qing;Gopalan, Venkatraman
• 通讯作者: Gopalan, Venkatraman

Growth and phase transition of Sr3Zr2O7 single crystals

Sr3Zr2O7 单晶的生长和相变

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2023.127241
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Journal of Crystal Growth
• 影响因子: 1.8
• 作者: Fukasawa, Ikuya;Maruyama, Yuki;Yoshida, Suguru;Fujita, Koji;Takahashi, Hidehiro;Ohgaki, Masataka;Nagao, Masanori;Watauchi, Satoshi;Gopalan, Venkatraman;Tanaka, Katsuhisa
• 通讯作者: Tanaka, Katsuhisa