Optically active composite materials for applications in optical amplifiers and solid state lasers

Aim of project
Main goal of this project is developing, fabrication and characterization of active composite materials based on polymers containing Al2O3 nano-ceramics doped with rare-earth ions, for applications in new generation optical amplifiers and coherent radiation sources.

Expected results

Scope of work encompasses fabrication of composite host materials based on two selected polymers of different properties – poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA and ethylene cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) TOPAS. Optically active phase will be the aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nano-ceramics doped with rare-earth ions (e.g. Er3+, Tm3+, Pr3+, Ho3+, Yb3+). Obtained nano-composite structures will be provided with full physical, chemical, as well as quantitative and qualitative description, along with a versatile optical characterization with methods of high-resolution, excitation and emission laser spectroscopy. Project assumes determination of key parameters of multi-ion and multi-photon interactions resulting in energy transfers among the active centers and processes of non-radiative relaxation of their excited energy states. Obtained set of experimental data will be input to numerical modeling of optical amplification and laser action processes in the studied structures, which would enable validation of their optoelectronics applicability and elaboration of optimization schemes for their optical parameters.

Project coordinator
Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology, Institute of Microelectronics and Optoelectronics Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Designing Division Faculty of Chemistry Division of Homogeneous Catalysis and Organometallic Chemi

Partners
Ryszard Piramidowicz, IMiO PW