Optical Materials

Optical Materials presents, in a unified form, the underlying physical and structural processes that determine the optical behavior of materials. It does this by combining elements from physics, optics, and materials science in a seamless manner, and introducing quantum mechanics when needed. The book groups the characteristics of optical materials into classes with similar behavior. In treating each type of material, the text pays particular attention to atomic composition and chemical makeup, electronic states and band structure, and physical microstructure so that the reader will gain insight into the kinds of materials engineering and processing conditions that are required to produce a material exhibiting a desired optical property. The physical principles are presented on many levels, including a physical explanation, followed by formal mathematical support and examples and methods of measurement. The reader may overlook the equations with no loss of comprehension, or may use the text to find appropriate equations for calculations of optical properties. Presents the optical properties of metals, insulators, semiconductors, laser materials, and non-linear materials Physical processes are discussed and quantified using precise mathematical treatment, followed by examples and a discussion of measurement methods Authors combine many years of expertise in condensed matter physics, classical and quantum optics, and materials science The text is written on many levels and will benefit the novice as well as the expert Explains the concept of color in materials Explains the non-linear optical behavior of materials in a unified form Appendices present rigorous derivations

The definition of optical material has expanded in recent years, largely because of IT advances that have led to rapid growth in optoelectronics applications. Helping to explain this evolution, Optical Materials and Applications presents contributions from leading experts who explore the basic concepts of optical materials and the many typical applications in which they are used. An invaluable reference for readers ranging from professionals to technical managers to graduate engineering students, this book covers everything from traditional principles to more cutting-edge topics. It also details recent developmental trends, with a focus on basic optical properties of material. Key topics include: Fundamental optical properties of solids Fundamental optical materials (including thin films) from both linear and nonlinear perspectives Use of bulk materials in the design of various modifications Application of optical thin films in artificial components Formation of artificial structures with sub-wavelength dimensions Use of physical or chemical techniques to control lightwave phase One-, two-, and three-dimensional structures used to control dispersion of materials for nanophotonics Progress of the optical waveguide, which makes optical systems more compact and highly efficient This book carefully balances coverage of theory and application of typical optical materials for ultraviolet, visible and infrared, non-linear optics, solid state lasers, optical waveguides, optical thin films and nanophotonics. It addresses both basic ideas and more advanced topics, making it an equally invaluable resource for beginners and active researchers in this growing field.

For years scientists turned to the CRC Handbook of Laser Science & Technology for reliable data on optical materials. Out of print for several years, that standard-setting work now has a successor: the Handbook of Optical Materials. This new handbook is an authoritative compilation of the physical properties of materials used in all types of lasers and optical systems. In it, scientist, author, and editor Dr. Marvin J. Weber provides extensive data tabulations and references for the most important optical materials, including crystals, glasses, polymers, metals, liquids, and gases. The properties detailed include both linear and nonlinear optical properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties together with many additional special properties, such as electro-, magneto-, and elasto-optic properties. Using a minimum of narration and logically organized by material properties, the handbook's unique presentation simplifies the process of comparing different materials for their suitability in particular applications. Appendices furnish a wealth of other useful information, including lists of the many abbreviations and acronyms that proliferate in this field. The Handbook of Optical Materials is simply the most complete one-stop source available for materials data essential to lasers and optical systems.

Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials provides an extensive description of the preparation and characterization of organic materials for applications in nonlinear and electro-optics. The book discusses the fundamental optimization and practical limitations of a number of figures of merit for various optical parameters and gives a clinical appraisal of the potential of organic materials for applicators in optical technology. Among the topics addressed are the basic molecular design of ;nonlinear optical chromophores, fundamentals and novel techniques of organic crystal growth, preparation and characterization of Langmuir-Blodgett and polymer films, experimental methods for determining microscopic and macroscopic optical properties. Also included is a discussion of first results of the photorefractive effect in organic crystals and the potential of organics for photorefractive applications, as well as an extensive review of published linear and nonlinear optical measurement of organic materials.

This book includes a comprehensive presentation of the fundamental physics of optical matter, the definition of material physical properties, the listing and comparison of the physical properties of infrared optical materials, and the theory, design, and survey of infrared optical coatings.

Research and applications in optical engineering require careful selection of materials. With such a large and varied array to choose from, it is important to understand a material's physical and optical properties before making a selection. Providing a convenient, concise, and logically organized collection of information, Physical Properties and Data of Optical Materials builds a thorough background for more than 100 optical materials and offers quick access to precise information. Surveying the most important and widely used optical materials, this handy reference includes data on a wide variety of metals, semiconductors, dielectrics, polymers, and other commonly used optical materials. For each material, the editors examine the crystal system; natural and artificial growth and production methods along with corrosives and processing; thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties; optical properties, such as transmittance and reflectance spectra, ranging from UV to IR wavelengths; and, where applicable, applications for spectroscopy and miscellaneous remarks such as handling concerns and chemical properties. Numerous tables illustrate important data such as numerical values of optical constants for important wavelength regions, extinction and absorption coefficients, and refractive index. Physical Properties and Data of Optical Materials offers a collection of data on an unprecedented variety of fundamental optical materials, making it the one quick-lookup guide that every optical scientist, engineer, and student should own.

This unique book provides the optics designer and user with the latest advances on materials used as optical elements in systems and devices—in one convenient volume. Presenting fundamental performance requirements, basic characteristics, principles of fabrication, possibilities for new or modified optical materials, and key characterization data, this outstanding source facilitates optical materials selection and application. Comprehensive and thorough, this reference offers a broad review of old and new optical materials such as glasses, crystalline materials, plastics, and coatings... contains specific optical and characterization information useful for preliminary calculations ... and explains processes used to manufacture optical materials, giving insight into possible modifications of materials caused by process variations. Plus, this practical text includes a glossary of terms for a basic understanding, numerous illustrations for a clear perspective, and references for easy access to related material. This single-source volume is ideal for optical system/device designers and developers; design and development engineers; materials engineers; physical measurements engineers; test engineers, optics designers, and optics engineers; professional seminars; and undergraduate- and graduate-level students in optical and materials sciences courses.

This book integrates materials science with other engineering subjects such as physics, chemistry and electrical engineering. The authors discuss devices and technologies used by the electronics, magnetics and photonics industries and offer a perspective on the manufacturing technologies used in device fabrication. The new addition includes chapters on optical properties and devices and addresses nanoscale phenomena and nanoscience, a subject that has made significant progress in the past decade regarding the fabrication of various materials and devices with nanometer-scale features.

Provides a semi-quantitative approach to recent developments in the study of optical properties of condensed matter systems Featuring contributions by noted experts in the field of electronic and optoelectronic materials and photonics, this book looks at the optical properties of materials as well as their physical processes and various classes. Taking a semi-quantitative approach to the subject, it presents a summary of the basic concepts, reviews recent developments in the study of optical properties of materials and offers many examples and applications. Optical Properties of Materials and Their Applications, 2nd Edition starts by identifying the processes that should be described in detail and follows with the relevant classes of materials. In addition to featuring four new chapters on optoelectronic properties of organic semiconductors, recent advances in electroluminescence, perovskites, and ellipsometry, the book covers: optical properties of disordered condensed matter and glasses; concept of excitons; photoluminescence, photoinduced changes, and electroluminescence in noncrystalline semiconductors; and photoinduced bond breaking and volume change in chalcogenide glasses. Also included are chapters on: nonlinear optical properties of photonic glasses; kinetics of the persistent photoconductivity in crystalline III-V semiconductors; and transparent white OLEDs. In addition, readers will learn about excitonic processes in quantum wells; optoelectronic properties and applications of quantum dots; and more. Covers all of the fundamentals and applications of optical properties of materials Includes theory, experimental techniques, and current and developing applications Includes four new chapters on optoelectronic properties of organic semiconductors, recent advances in electroluminescence, perovskites, and ellipsometry Appropriate for materials scientists, chemists, physicists and electrical engineers involved in development of electronic materials Written by internationally respected professionals working in physics and electrical engineering departments and government laboratories Optical Properties of Materials and Their Applications, 2nd Edition is an ideal book for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students, and teaching and research professionals in the fields of physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, and materials engineering.

In the CRC Handbook of Laser Science and Technology: Supplement 2, experts summarize the discovery and properties of new optical materials that have appeared since the publication of Volumes III-V. Included are the latest advances in optical crystals, glasses and plastics, laser host materials, phase conjugation materials, linear electrooptic materials, nonlinear optical materials, magnetooptic materials, elastooptic materials, photorefractive materials, liquid crystals, and thin film coatings. The book also includes expanded coverage of optical waveguide materials and new sections on optical liquids, glass fiber lasers, diamond optics, and gradient index materials. Appendices include Designation of Russian Optical Glasses; Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Mineralogical or Common Names for Optical Materials; and Abbreviations for Methods of Preparing Optical Materials. Extensive tabulations of materials properties with references to the primary literature are provided throughout the supplement. The CRC Handbook of Laser Science and Technology: Supplement 2 represents the latest volume in the most comprehensive, up-to-date listing of the properties of optical materials for lasers and laser systems, making it an essential reference work for all scientists and engineers working in laser research and development.

For years scientists turned to the CRC Handbook of Laser Science & Technology for reliable data on optical materials. Out of print for several years, that standard-setting work now has a successor: the Handbook of Optical Materials. This new handbook is an authoritative compilation of the physical properties of materials used in all types of lasers and optical systems. In it, scientist, author, and editor Dr. Marvin J. Weber provides extensive data tabulations and references for the most important optical materials, including crystals, glasses, polymers, metals, liquids, and gases. The properties detailed include both linear and nonlinear optical properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties together with many additional special properties, such as electro-, magneto-, and elasto-optic properties. Using a minimum of narration and logically organized by material properties, the handbook's unique presentation simplifies the process of comparing different materials for their suitability in particular applications. Appendices furnish a wealth of other useful information, including lists of the many abbreviations and acronyms that proliferate in this field. The Handbook of Optical Materials is simply the most complete one-stop source available for materials data essential to lasers and optical systems.

Mathematical methods play a significant role in the rapidly growing field of nonlinear optical materials. This volume discusses a number of successful or promising contributions. The overall theme of this volume is twofold: (1) the challenges faced in computing and optimizing nonlinear optical material properties; and (2) the exploitation of these properties in important areas of application. These include the design of optical amplifiers and lasers, as well as novel optical switches. Research topics in this volume include how to exploit the magnetooptic effect, how to work with the nonlinear optical response of materials, how to predict laser-induced breakdown in efficient optical devices, and how to handle electron cloud distortion in femtosecond processes.

The first step in a new era where optics supersedes electronics was established by fiber optic communication. Optical data processing is now following with optical elements which can address and retrieve information directly using fiber optics. The new technology is progressing rapidly due to a major input of materials scientists guided by early pioneers such as Francis Garito and Joseph Zyss, who are among the contributors to this volume, which is divided into eight parts: molecular engineering and nonlinear optics, Langmuir-Blodgett films, nonlinear polymers, harmonic generation, nonlinear optical materials, photoreactive materials, nonlinear liquid crystals, and optical testing. No subject index. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

The laser power handling capacities of optical systems are determined by the physical properties of their component materials. At low intensity levels these factors are not important, but an understanding of damage mechanisms is fundamental to good design of laser products operating at high power. Laser Induced Damage of Optical Materials presents

This book is the newest research on the physical properties of optical materials used in all types of lasers and optical systems. The scope includes the most important optical materials, including crystals, glasses, polymers, metals, liquids, and gases. The properties detailed include both linear and non-linear optical properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties together with many additional special properties, such as electro-, magneto-, and elasto-optic properties.

Nonlinear optical materials play a pivotal role in the future evolution of nonlinear optics in general and its impact in technology and industrial applications in particular. The progress in nonlinear optics has been tremendous since the first demonstration of an all-optical nonlinear effect in the early sixties, but until recently the main visible emphasis was on the physical aspects of the nonlinear radiation matter interaction. In the last decade, however, this effort has also brought its fruits in applied aspects of nonlinear optics. This can be essentially traced to the improvement of the performances of the nonlinear optical materials. Our understanding of the nonlinear polarization mechanisms and their relation to the structural characteristics of the materials has been considerably improved. In addition, the new development of techniques for the fabrication and growth of artificial materials has dramatically contributed to this evolution. The goal is to find and develop materials presenting large nonlinearities and satisfying at the same time all the technological requirements for applications such as wide transparency range, fast response, high damage threshold but also processability, adaptability and interfacing with other materials. Improvements, besides rendering possible the implementation of nonlinear effects in devices, open the way to the study of new nonlinear optical effects and the introduction of new concepts. This book describes new concepts which are emerging in the field of nonlinear optical materials, concentrating the attention on materials which seem more promising for applications in the technology of information transmission and processing.