U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Optical Crystals for High-Power Nonlinear Optic and Laser Materials

9981422Keszler这项为期三年的美法固态化学和材料合作奖由俄勒冈州立大学的Douglas Keszler、巴黎高等国立大学的Gerard Ak以及他们的研究生交流获得。该项目在国家科学基金会和法国国家科学研究中心(CNRS)的联合计划下得到支持，重点是合成、晶体生长和研究用于产生高功率相干光的光学晶体。这项工作的一部分将用于开发一种非线性光学和激光材料的硼酸盐系列。这些化合物可以起到两个晶体合二为一的作用，即作为自倍频激光器。他们将研究结构与性能的关系，并通过合成和生长合适的衍生物来进一步调整物理性能。此外，研究人员将探索新的复杂的硼酸铝及其实现激光到更短波长的直接转换的潜力。该奖项代表了美国方面向NSF和法国国家科学研究中心(CNRS)提出的联合建议。NSF将支付美国调查员和美国研究生的旅费和生活费。CNRS将支持法国研究人员和学生访问美国。这位美国研究人员将探索性合成、基于熔剂的晶体生长、结构表征和建模研究方面的专业知识带到了这次合作中。法国团队在激光光谱学、激光材料开发和理论方面的专业知识补充了这一点。他们的合作将提高对非线性光学和激光材料结构-性质关系的理解，并可能导致新的激光光学晶体。高功率激光和非线性光学材料的发展是制造微处理器、医疗诊断和治疗、平板显示器、食品加工和激光雷达的重要技术。

9981422KeszlerThis three-year award for U.S.-France collaboration in solid state chemistry and materials involves Douglas Keszler of Oregon State University, Gerard Aka of the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Paris and an exchange of their graduate students. The project, supported under the joint program of the National Science Foundation and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), focuses on the synthesis, crystal growth and study of optical crystals for generation of high-power coherent light. A portion of the effort will be directed to the development of a borate family of nonlinear optical and laser materials. These compounds can function as two crystals in one, i.e., as self-frequency doubling lasers. They will study the structure-properties relationship and further tune physical properties through synthesis and crystal growth of appropriate derivatives. In addition, the investigators will explore new, complex aluminum borates and their potential for the realization of direct conversion of laser light to shorter wavelengths. This award represents the U.S. side of a joint proposal to the NSF and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). NSF will cover travel funds and living expenses of the U.S. investigator and U.S. graduate students. The CNRS will support the French researchers' and students' visits to the United States. The U.S. investigator brings to this collaboration expertise in exploratory synthesis, flux-based crystal growth, structural characterization, and modeling studies. This is complemented by the French team's expertise in laser spectroscopy, laser-material development, and theory. Their collaboration will improve understanding of the structure-property relationships in nonlinear optical and laser materials, and may lead to new optical crystals for lasers. The development of high-power laser and nonlinear optical materials is an important technology for the manufacture of microprocessors, for medical diagnostics and therapies, in flat-panel displays, food processing, and laser radar.