Engineered Optical Materials

Engineered nonlinear optical devices, based on the micron-scale patterning of ferroelectric materials, are used to convert radiation from diode lasers and diode-pumped solid state lasers (which typically operate in the near-infrared region of the spectrum) to longer (mid-infrared) or shorter (visible) wavelengths. The mid-infrared laser sources have been packaged into instruments used for atmospheric monitoring (water vapor, methane), isotope ratio measurement (carbon dioxide), and industrial process control (methane, ethylene). Nonlinear crystals engineered for generating visible wavelengths are being evaluated for potential use in adaptive optics and projection display systems.