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Faculty Projects
The following is a list of projects proposed by CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics Professors. After you have been selected for the REU program, you will be asked to choose to work on one of these projects.
Summer 2004
Michael Bass Laser Calorimetry A laser calorimeter to measure very small absorptions will be assembled and tested on some very important optical materials. This will involve optics, hardware assembly, software preparation using Labview and detection of very small signals.
Kevin D. Belfield and David J. Hagan Synthesis and Characterization of Efficient Two-Photon Absorbing Organic Molecules Over the past 50 years, the field of organic photochemistry has produced a wealth of information, from reaction mechanisms to useful methodology for synthetic transformations. Many technological innovations have been realized during this time due to the exploits of this knowledge, including photoresists and lithography for the production of integrated circuits, photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment, photoinitiated polymerization, UV protection of plastics and humans through the development of UV absorbing compounds and sunscreens, and fluorescence imaging, to name a few. These processes involve "single-photon" absorption-based photochemistry. Comparatively few studies of multiphoton-induced (nonlinear) organic photochemistry have been reported. We have undertaken a systematic study of molecular structure and nonlinear absorption for organic molecules. The student will synthesize one of the target molecules in Prof. Belfield's lab and learn to use an ultrafast laser (femtosecond) system to characterize the nonlinear (two-photon) absorption characteristics of the compound in Prof. Hagan's lab.
Peter J. Delfyett Projects in Ultrafast Photonics Using Semiconductor Laser Diodes This project focuses on utilizing ultrafast semiconductor lasers for applications in telecommunications and optical signal processing. We will develop experiments to measure the ultrafast pulse distortions and spectral quality of the laser as they propagate through photonic components. Once characterized, we will employ these pulses in applications of 1 Tb/s optical communication data links and photonic analog to digital converters, photonic arbitrary waveform generators, and optical clocks for timing in digital computing environments.
Aristide Dogariu Remote Detection of the Properties of Liquids Using Fiber Optics Prior research in this lab has demonstrated that it is possible to measure the transmission of water at distances of ~300 m through fiber optics connecting visible laser light sources and detectors to passive sensor cells. In the next phase of this work we will implement differential measurements at remote sites, use short enough cell path lengths to enable measurements in the near infrared (using diode laser sources) and design passive, differential cells that can be submersed in water at a distance. Time permitting, the submersible cell will be built and tested. This project will also enable measurement of scattering in the water at the remote site. It will make possible new systems capable of monitoring water quality, factory effluents and liquid product. The techniques demonstrated in this project may also enable examining the properties of human tissue and monitoring light dosage during laser surgery. It may also provide a means to detect tumors.
Leonid B. Glebov Photoinduced Phenomena and Holographic Elements in Glasses Photoinduced (including nonlinear) phenomena (coloration, refraction, scattering, and diffraction) in glasses attracted high attention last years because of application in optical communication, lasers, and data storage and processing. This project includes linear and nonlinear color center (radiation defects) generation, photoinduced absorption and refraction measurements, and hologram recording in photosensitive glasses. The REU student will work closely with CREOL research staff producing both investigation of photo-induced processes and creation of diffractive optical elements.
David J. Hagan Nonlinear Optical Limiting Devices An optical limiter is a device that transmits low intensity light, such as images, but blocks high intensity laser radiation. One of the most practical ways of achieving such behavior is by using the nonlinear optical properties of certain materials. What is meant by “nonlinear optics” is that light, if its intensity is high enough, can alter the properties of the material through which it propagates. Such properties can include the refractive index of the material, or its optical absorption. By using these effects in clever ways, we can make optical limiters, as well as many other types of optical switch. The student will work with Dr. Hagan and a graduate student on the design, computer modeling, building and testing of limiting devices. Testing will utilize nanosecond and picosecond pulsewidth Nd:YAG lasers.
Florencio Eloy Hernandez Radiation Decay Engineering in Multiphoton Surface Plasmon Enhancement The interest in the development of new sensor and phototherapeutic systems with significant impact on national security, health care and the environment has increased in the last years. Using nanoparticles scientists have been exploring the possibilities to improve the performance of sensors taking advantage of the effect of the surface plasmon resonance of metal nanoparticles on the linear and nonlinear optical properties of materials. In my group we are establishing a new interdisciplinary research area to study the physical-chemical and optical properties of nanomaterials and their interaction with organic molecules with potential applications in chemical and biological sensing systems, photodynamic therapy, luminophores for displays, imaging, and optical data storage. We are exploring new applications of plasmonics in high order nonlinear absorption processes. The proposed research aims to establish the foundation for "radiative decay engineering" by combining surface plasmon enhancement effects with nonlinear optical processes such as multiphoton absorption, energy transfer, and excited state intersystem crossing. Our objectives include generating metallic nanospheres and nanorods functionalized with specifically designed organic molecules that can impart a signature electronic or photonic behavior. The outcome of this research will strongly impact areas such as biophysics, molecular engineering of materials, and medicine.
Hans P. Jenssen Characterization of Laser Crystals
Eric G. Johnson 3D Nano-Optical Elements 3D Photonic crystals are of great interest to the optics community and are an area of intense research. They can be used to miniaturize optical components or manipulate optical signals in ways that were previously not possible. Moreover, they can be used to create bilogically inspired optics exhibiting dramatic dispersive properties. The Micro-Photonics Lab at CREOL is investigating novel methods of fabricating photonic crystals and integrating them with other devices to form functional micro and nano-photonic systems. The two-month research project for this summer will focus on investigating and developing new techniques to fabricate photonic crystals and integrate them into larger systems. Research will entail developing and characterizing fabrication processes in different material systems using a variety of micro-fabrication equipment. Work will include performing optical tests on the formed crystals and eventual publication of the research.
Aravinda Kar Lasers for Manufacturing and Synthesis of High Technology Materials Lasers have been used for cutting applications for nearly 40 years; it is one of the oldest fields in laser materials processing. From the start, lasers were used for hole drilling in a wide range of materials, from the perforation of baby bottle nipples by a CO2 laser beam to piercing diamonds. Today, aerospace and automobile industries use lasers for production of large-volume holes for cooling and lubrication purposes in engine components. During this time, the focus of research and applications alike was on laser cutting of homogeneous materials, like metals and alloys. Laser cutting of inhomogeneous materials, e.g., concrete with embedded rebar, has been investigated from an applications point of view only in the last years. There are no mathematical models or measured data sets available for the geometrical (e.g., kerf width and depth) and thermodynamical (e.g., vapor/plasma plume temperature) process parameters. Also, no information is available to describe the transient nature of the laser cutting process when the material is changed suddenly. Besides cutting applications, lasers are now used for drilling holes and joining materials. Lasers are also becoming promising tools for processing a new class of materials called wide bandgap compound semiconductors which are good for high temperature and high power applications. We would like to present the following projects that can be investigated: • Thermal and stress modeling of laser-matter interactions during high power laser applications. • Carry out laser cutting, drilling or joining experiments with varieties of materials and understand various effects of laser-matter interactions for manufacturing and materials synthesis applications. • Carry out laser doping, metallization, microstructuring or nanostructuring experiments with wide bandgap or other materials and evaluate the metallurgical, optical and electrical properties of laser-fabricated devices, microstructures or nanostructures.
Stephen Kuebler Optical Materials and Processes for Micro- and Nano-Fabrication Research in my group focuses on the development of new materials and processes for patterning on nanometer and micrometer length scales, techniques for three-dimensional (3D) nano- and micro-fabrication, and the development of new nano-composite materials having useful optical and electronic function. REU students will have an opportunity to learn about materials science as well as optical methods for characterizing and patterning materials. The nano/micro-patterning methods we are developing should find broad application in several areas of science and technology including the development of new composite optical materials and the fabrication of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), micro-optical systems, and biological sensors. There are research opportunities in my lab for undergraduates from many disciplines, including optical science, chemistry, materials science, engineering, nano-materials science and technology, and bio-related fields.
Stephen Kuebler Development of an instrument for multi-photon three-dimensional microfabrication (3DM) In this project the REU student will work closely with post-doctoral researcher Dr. Ivan Divliansky and graduate student Mr. Toufic Jabbour to assemble and optimize the opto-mechanical system for laser-based multi-photon 3D microfabrication. Specific tasks involved include: 1. Learning to operate and optimize the output of a tunable mode-locked femtosecond laser, that is the excitation source for 3DM. 2. Integrating a commercial 3-axis micro-positioner (Sutter MP-285) onto an inverted microscope stage (Olympus) that serves as the optical 3DM platform. 3. Designing and optimizing the opto-mechanical system that couples light from the femtosecond laser into the microscope system. 4. Developing a rudimentary PC-based control system to automate the 3DM process. 5. Performing initial 3DM using multi-photon cross-linkable acrylate resins
Stephen Kuebler Development of a LabView-based control system to automate the multi-photon three-dimensional microfabrication (3DM) instrument In this project the REU student will work closely with post-doctoral researcher Dr. Ivan Divliansky and graduate student Mr. Toufic Jabbour to develop a LabView-based control system that would automate the 3DM instrument designed and built in Project I. The software should be sufficiently "open-platform" and well documented to enable future enhancements. Specific tasks will enclude: 1. Integrating LabView control of the MP-285 micro-positioner using a serial interface. 2. Integrating LabView control of a Uniblitz opto-mechanical shutter using a National Instruments I/O control board. 3. Integrating a photodiode based detector and attenuator assembly for dynamic control of the laser power used for 3DM. 4. Developing a user interface that facilitates real-time set-up of the 3DM conditions prior to initiating an automated 3DM routine. 5. Perform initial tests on the integration of the shutter-attenuator dynamic control by writing dose-array features inside resins.
Guifang Li Fiber Optic Communication Systems Currently we focus on three areas in fiber optic communication systems: 1) all-optical clock recovery and 3R (retiming, reshaping, reamplification) regeneration, 2) new modulation formats for dispersion- and nonlinearity-tolerant WDM transmission, and 3) fiber-optic backbone for 60 GHz wireless systems.
M. G. "Jim" Moharam Beam Profile Distortion in Volume Holography Experimental investigation of the distortion in beam profile upon diffraction by thick volume hologram will be performed. Volume holographic gratings will be recorded in photorefractive lithium niobate crystals. Spatial profiles of the diffracted beam profile will be characterized under various recording configurations.
Yaw Obeng Laser Assisted Direct Metallization for Microelectronic Applications For more than 20 years there has been an ongoing effort to directly write metal lines in the fabrication of microelectronic and optoelectronic devices. Laser assisted metallization has the potential of alleviating many of the issues plaguing the back-end-of-line (BEOL) metallization technologies and for reducing cost. All the early efforts have produced only poor quality metal lines; the metal deposits were porous and contaminated with carbon, as well as being barely continuous and ill resolved. Root cause analyses of the failure of various laser assisted direct metallization schemes suggest that those efforts relied on the thermal decomposition of metal-organic precursors. Metal lines of varying quality were produced depending on thermal characteristics of the substrate and the metal precursor. The proposed research is aimed at identifying photolytic processes to produce high quality metal lines suitable for microelectronics and optoelectronics applications. Our initial work will demonstrate the feasibility of photolytic direct metallization with a new class of photoactive metal precursors.
Yaw Obeng Characterization of Plasma-Treated Polymers and Adhesives for Optical Applications Objective: Understand the ‘In-Service’ Performance of Plasma Treated Polymers and Adhesives used in Polishing of Optical Materials Polishing pads (thermoplastic and thermoset polymers) used beneath the work-piece during optical fabrication must be adhered to the platen of the polisher with adhesives. The resulting quality of the polished optic depends on the stability of the pad/workpiece and the pad/adhesive/platen interfaces. This study will examine the changes in the chemistry and the mechanical properties of adhesives before and after exposure to simulated polishing conditions. Polishing condition variables include pH, abrasives, pressure, and temperature. It is expected that new and unique product technologies will emerge from the understanding this work.
Kathleen A. Richardson Femtosecond Laser Written Waveguides in Amorphous Chalcogenide Films This project will involve the construction of an optical system designed to write photo-structural changes in As2S3 glass films. Such writing induces a refractive index modification to the glass, allowing waveguide structures to be written. The student will work with a small group of graduate students work on a project developing a new technique to make on-chip photonic structures with femtosecond lasers. The student will build a special refractive near field interferometer for the analysis of the refractive index of thin glass films. This will be a unique instrument, and will provide data that should be publishable in peer-reviewed journals.
Kathleen A. Richardson Processing and Analysis of Rare Earth doped Chalcogenide Glasses (Kathleen Richardson and Laeticia Petit) The successful development of optical amplifiers has increased the interest in glass materials for Er3+ hosts. The primary challenge in developing these materials is to increase the rare-earth luminescence properties. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Er3+ luminescence could be enhanced by the introduction of silver or by a Ce3+ / Er3+ co-doping procedure. This project aims to develop and characterize new rare earth doped chalcogenide (ChG) glass compositions with enhanced Er3+ luminescence properties. The student will 1) process glasses, 2)evaluate the formation of silver nanoparticles in the glasses using laser irradiation and 3) quantify the effect of silver particles on the erbium luminescence. The project, which is currently in progress between CREOL and Chemistry faculty, will yield exposure to • glass synthesis (sealed tubes in a glove box), • characterization of optical materials including density, thermal analysis (DSC), structural analysis (IR and Raman spectroscopy) and optical (absorption and emission) analysis.
Kathleen A. Richardson Characterization of New Glasses for Raman Gain Applications (Kathleen Richardson and Clara Rivero) This project will evaluate key optical performance attributes of glasses developed for next generation Raman amplification applications. These novel glasses must exhibit high Raman Gain coefficients, possess low linear and nonlinear absorption, and have good optical quality. Properties such as linear and nonlinear refractive index and absorption will be quantified, as well as glass stability properties necessary to assess candidate glass fiberization potential.
Martin C. Richardson Femtosecond Laser Written Waveguides in Amorphous Chalcogenide Films This project will involve the construction of an optical system designed to write photo-structural changes in As2S3 glass films. Such writing induces a refractive index modification to the glass, allowing waveguide structures to be written. The student will work with a small group of graduate students work on a project developing a new technique to make on-chip photonic structures with femtosecond lasers. The student will build a special refractive near field interferometer for the analysis of the refractive index of thin glass films. This will be a unique instrument, and will provide data that should be publishable in peer-reviewed journals.
Martin C. Richardson New solid-state laser development Our Laser Development Laboratory is involved in the development of specialized, complex, usually high power, solid-state lasers for specialized applications. For example, this year we are developing several special laser systems, including an ultra-high intensity, femtosecond laser system capable of powers of ~10 TW that will also be used for plasma studies at CREOL, and for novel micro-machining applications this summer. The student who joins this group will obtain hands-on experience in laser building and measuring the characteristics of lasers, under the supervision of a senior scientist or graduate student.
Martin C. Richardson X-Ray Spectroscopy The next generations of advanced lithography for computer chip manufacture flat follow Moore’s Law with the semiconductor industry, will use laser-produced plasmas as sources of short wavelength radiation. The laser plasma laboratory at CREOL is one of the leading groups in the world developing these sources. The student involved in the project will use special transmission grating, and grazing incidence grating x-ray spectrometers to analyze the spectral emission of these sources. The student will work directly with a senior graduate student on this project. There is a high probability that this project will lead to publications in scientific journals and papers presented at scientific conferences.
Nabeel A. Riza Intelligent Optical Communications Optical communications is an important area for research and commercialization in the 21st century. This project deals with the design, assembly, and experimental testing of novel optical components and sub-systems for optical communications using both fiber and freespace optics. Various material technologies such as MEMS, liquid crystals, and acousto-optics will be exploited to build these innovations.
Alfons Schulte Near-Infrared Raman Spectroscopy of Phot-Induced Structures in Glasses for Integrated Optics Liquid crystal has become the dominant flat panel display technology for notebook and desktop computers, mobile communications, and multimedia projectors. Replacement of CRT-based TVs is taking off. The major research activities in our group are: New liquid crystal materials, optical phased arrays for laser beam steering and network switching, nano-photonics for variable-focus lenses, bio-photonics, liquid crystal televisions, and transflective displays for mobile communications. Near-infrared waveguide Raman spectroscopy is extremely powerful in the microstructural analysis of thin film devices due to the combination of high molecular specificity and sensitivity. The undergraduate will learn and apply these state-of-the-art techniques to the characterization of photo-induced structures in chalcogenide glasses under various laser writing conditions.
Sudipta Seal Optical Properties of Solgel Derived Nanocrystalline Thin Films Nanomaterials have tremendous potentials in mechanical, thermal and optical applications. Herein, we propose to prepare nanocrystalline metal sulfide thin films on select substrates. Metals will include Cu, Ag, and Au. The films will be heated to various temperatures to follow the particle growth, and subsequently optical properties will be studied as a function of particle size and morphology. The undergraduate student will be involved in optical measurements and synthesis of these nanofilms.
Craig W. Siders Femtosecond Photonic Technologies & Applications Students will gain first-hand experience with the generation, measurement, and manipulation of femtosecond optical pulses, as well as an understanding of chirped-pulse amplification and the unique role femtosecond photonics has played in opening new fields in science.
Shin-Tson Wu Tunable Liquid Crystal Photonic Devices Liquid crystal has become the dominant flat panel display technology for notebook and desktop computers, mobile communications, and multimedia projectors. Replacement of CRT-based TVs is taking off. The major research activities in our group are: New liquid crystal materials, optical phased arrays for laser beam steering and network switching, nano-photonics for variable-focus lenses, bio-photonics, liquid crystal televisions, and transflective displays for mobile communications.
Boris Y. Zeldovich Theoretical Studies of Wave Propagation The student will work one-on-one with Dr. Zel’dovich on several aspects of wave propagation, as applied to optics and to quantum mechanics.
See projects from other years: 2010| 2009| 2008| 2007| 2006| 2005| 2004| 2003| 2002| 2001|
