Photorefractives for fast optics

• Main Author: Deer, Mathew John
• Other Authors: Kaczmarek, Malgosia ; McEwan, Ken
• Published: University of Southampton 2006
• Subjects: 620.11295; QC Physics
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.438527

This thesis describes an experimental and theoretical study into the nonlinear optical properties of novel photorefractive materials and devices. The focus of the work is centred on bringing together the attractive attributes of inorganic and organic materials in a single hybrid device and to increase the photorefractive effect that is available from either material alone. Consequently three novel photorefractive devices have been developed that are suitable for use as frequency agile optical filters and exhibit greater contrast ratios than previous passive photorefractive materials. Small signal gain co-efficients of up to 1600cm-1 are demonstrated in these hybrid devices, compared to less than 20cm-1 in a single photorefractive window without any inorganic-organic hybridisation. The fundamental understanding in an inorganic photorefractive hybrid has also been advanced.