Structural Developments in Ion-Implanted Sol-Gel Films and Resulting Glasses

非技术描述：平面光波导是光信号处理和电信中使用的器件的基础。 为了制造这样的装置，在玻璃板上创建具有特定光导和光放大特性的小通道，通过沿着表面附近的特定图案改变其化学成分。 由于与玻璃结构的兼容性差，从光学和光子学角度来看最有效的元件的添加受到限制。 本研究旨在开发一种新的技术，用于最终制造平面波导，基于离子束注入的光学活性元素到玻璃的前体。 一种新的制造工艺有望提高平面波导器件的性能，并有助于促进新技术的发展，如光学计算机和数据存储。 在执行该项目时，未来的工程师和科学家将接受玻璃科学和计算材料研究方面的培训。 这项工作的结果将进入公共领域，并有助于在公共和行业外展活动中使用的信息主体。技术专长：拟议调查的重点是将原子和纳米尺寸的颗粒插入到玻璃基质中，以实现特定的功能，如光导或光致发光。 非平衡处理路线，结合低温溶胶-凝胶合成和离子注入，将探索创建多孔和致密的无定形结构，可以容纳光学活性嵌入物种的浓度和空间分布，显着提高平面光波导的性能相比，目前的能力。 如何前体化学，注入剂量和处理时间表影响波导材料的结构和性能的基本方面将通过原位结构表征，使用并发布里渊和拉曼光散射测量，辅以MD模拟，卢瑟福背散射，二次离子质谱和光致发光测量进行研究。 这项研究利用了美国国家科学基金会赞助的密歇根大学新离子注入机的收购，该注入机能够以足够高的能量注入稀土元素。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Planar optical waveguides are the basis for devices used in optical signal processing and telecommunication. To fabricate such devices, small channels with particular light-guiding and light-amplifying properties are created on a glass plate, by changing its chemical composition along specific patterns near the surface. Adding elements that are most effective from optical and photonic points of view is curbed due to poor compatibility with the glass structure. This research is to develop a novel technology for the eventual manufacture of planar waveguides, based on ion beam implantation of the optically active elements into a precursor of the glass. A new manufacturing process is expected to improve the performance of planar waveguide devices manifold and help facilitate new technologies, such as optical computers and data storage. In carrying out this project, future engineers and scientists are trained in glass science and computational materials research. The findings of this work will enter the public domain and contribute to the body of information used in public and industry outreach activities.TECHNICAL DETAILS: The focus of the proposed investigation is the insertion of atomic and nano-sized particles into a glass matrix to achieve particular functions, such as light guiding or photoluminescence. Non-equilibrium processing routes, combining low-temperature sol-gel synthesis and ion implantation, will be explored to create porous and dense amorphous structures that can accommodate optically active embedded species at concentrations and spatial distributions that significantly improve the performance of planar optical waveguides compared to current capabilities. The fundamental aspects of how precursor chemistry, implantation doses, and processing schedules affect the structure and properties of the waveguide materials will be investigated through in-situ structural characterization using concurrent Brillouin and Raman light scattering measurements, complemented by MD simulations, Rutherford backscattering, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. This research leverages the NSF-sponsored acquisition of a new ion implanter at the University of Michigan, which provides the ability to implant rare-earth elements at sufficiently high energies.