Photorefractive materials are being studied for applications in all-optical devices where the transfer of energy from one beam to another (beam coupling) occurs through a photorefractive grating. In inorganic photorefractives, contra-directional two-beam coupling is achieved when two counter-propagating beams interfere and form a reflection grating. The use of this geometry for studying the photorefractive properties of a material has the advantage of simplicity because only one incident beam is used, while the second beam is generated by the Fresnel refection inside the material. We have also investigated photorefractive transmission gratings in hybridized organic-inorganic photorefractive materials, as well as light scattering effects in hybridized organic-inorganic photovoltaic liquid crystal cells. Ferroelectric nanoparticles have been incorporated in the hybridized organic-inorganic photorefractive materials to enhance the optical gain.

We are interested in developing and understanding the physics of bulk and hybridized materials that exhibit the photorefractive effect in the visible, near-infrared, and infrared spectral regions. Because the photovoltaic effect can strongly influence the formation of gratings in some materials, we are also interested in the electrical properties of photorefractive materials.

 

References

Cook G, et al: Optics Express 16: 4015, 2008

Basun SA, et al: Physical Review B, 84: 024105, 2011

Evans DR, et al: Physical Review B, 84: 174111, 2011

 

key words

Nonlinear optics; Photovoltaic effect; Hybridized-organic-inorganic-photorefractive materials; Photorefractive effect; Contra-directional two-beam coupling;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants