SBIR-STTR Award

Several dye-doped polymer waveguides are selected based on a new integrated infrared to visible upconversion scheme. Visible upconversion particularly at blue, green and red wavelengths will be searched in these materials. Thin films of these materials will be spin coated and a simple laser polymerization process will be used to fabricate waveguides with low linear optical loss. Nonlinear optical characterization of these materials will be done from infrared two-photon absorption coefficient, crossection and upconversion yield measurements. These materials will be evaluated and compared for visible upconversion applications with the help of a new figure of merit. Stimulated emission in the visible wavelengths will be demonstrated in these waveguides in the form of amplified spontaneous emission.

Keywords:
DYE POLYMER WAVEGUIDE LASER UPCONVERSION VISIBLE INFRARED SWITCHING

Some dye-doped polymer materials are selected for developing compact visible lasers based on a new infrared to visible upconversion scheme. Infrared diode laser pumped blue upconversion waveguide lasers of these materials will be demonstrated. Thin films of these materials will be spin coated and a simple UV laser crosslinking process will be used to fabricate waveguides with very low linear propagation loss. Linear and nonlinear optical characterization as well as visible upconversion will be done in these waveguides. These waveguides will be fabricated on submicron holographic structures and distributed feedback infrared pumped blue upconversion waveguide lasers will be developed. Commercially available infrared diode lasers will be packaged with the dye-doped polymer waveguides to make compact blue laser devices. This technology based on the proposed new waveguide upconversion laser principle can be used to design compact visible lasers at any wavelength.