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.

非技术描述。自1960年建造以来，激光已经改变了科学和技术景观。激光使从原子量表到天文学的基本科学能够，并且具有许多应用，例如信息存储和检索，医学成像和手术，环境监测和航空，仅举几例。对于如此广泛的用途，重要的是要跨越频率（颜色）的广泛的电磁光谱，范围从X射线和紫外线到可见的和下面的及其范围。但是，激光旨在仅在几个狭窄的频率窗户内发出光。那么，如何获得如此广泛的可调电磁光谱呢？答案在于非线性光学的领域，其中专业材料将各种颜色的专用材料组合在一起，以生成不同颜色的新照片，这一过程称为非线性频率转换或谐波生成。现在，我们正处于量子通信的新时代的门槛，员工的量子纠缠了两张爱因斯坦的照片，爱因斯坦称之为“远处的怪异动作”。这种安全的互联网线路对于国家安全，从保护电网，水和食品的分销网络以及金融体系至关重要。纠缠的照片是通过使用非线性光学晶体将光子拆分为两个的。这需要非线性光学晶体优于使用中存在的晶体。特别是，缺乏在红外线和紫外线中起作用的材料。该项目将解决具有出色特性的新的非线性光学晶体的宏伟材料挑战。 PI还将传达这些惊人的光学和量子现象的兴奋和基础知识，并努力帮助发展多样性，并且有可能应对这些技术挑战的劳动力。技术描述。该项目的核心目标是通过具有最高二阶非线性光学系数的组成合成和表征非线性光学单晶，具有有效频率转换的最大透明度。该项目有两个主要推力。首先，在超越粉对单晶的主题下，研究人员将对理论和非线性光学张量进行理论引导的鉴定，合成和非线性光学张量，对理论和实验文献所建议的最有希望的非线性光学单晶体。第二个推力是在非线性建模和光频率转换上。在表征非线性光学中如此较高的张量性能时，实验数据的准确建模至关重要。目前不使用分析建模工具。该项目正在开发一种开源代码，用于预测和准确地对这些晶体的实验非线性光学响应进行建模。为最有前途的晶体组成探索了非线性频率转换设备。该项目正在努力展示至少十二个新的单晶，并作为开源建模包进行了发展。该项目每年为两名毕业生和一名本科生的培训提供资金，以培训光学材料和技术领域的潜水员和包容性劳动力。学生有机会学习和发展水晶的增长以及一套非线性光学特征和建模工具。通过与合作伙伴机构的参与，强烈的推广和与代表性不足的学生团体的参与。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准通过评估而被认为是珍贵的支持。

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