Materials for Use in Solid-State Lasers
Within the field of solid-state materials chemistry, one of the major challenges is balancing theory with experiments. Theory can make predictions and offer explanations for a material鈥檚 property, while experimental evidence offers verification, as well as new avenues for research.
In a recent commentary for , 葫芦影业 professor of chemistry P. Shiv Halasyamani weighed in on the balance between theory and experimentation for the development of materials for creating solid-state lasers. Included as co-author was Halasyamani鈥檚 long-running collaborator, Northwestern University professor James Rondinelli.
Materials for Use in Ultraviolet Solid-State Lasers
Within Halasyamani鈥檚 field, which is synthesizing materials for use in ultraviolet and deep-ultraviolet solid-state lasers, there are two major goals.
The first goal is to create a better replacement for current solid-state lasers at 266 nm, which is in the ultraviolet region. Currently, there are two options on the market, both of which were discovered in the 1990s. Although these options are reliable, and used in commercial applications, they have limitations.
鈥淚f we can find a better compound, companies will use it,鈥� Halasyamani said. 鈥淏oth of the current options are about 25 years old, and they aren鈥檛 getting any better.鈥�
A second goal is designing materials to use for a solid-state laser in the deep-ultraviolet region, for which there are currently no options. Commercially, there are deep-ultraviolet excimer lasers, which are used to etch computer chips and to perform laser eye surgery (Lasik). However, excimer lasers can be large, sometimes the size of an entire room, and require very specific operating conditions.
鈥淪olid-state lasers are just easier to use,鈥� Halasyamani said.
Theory and Experimentation: Calculating Material Properties
Making this a reality is challenging. In addition to these materials needing specific optical qualities, they must also be capable of being grown as large crystals. Figuring out how to grow crystals is a long and inexact process, and there are very few crystal-growth labs in the country.
This is where theory and experimentation come into play, with the collaboration between Halasyamani and Rondinelli serving as an example.
鈥淭his has been a really productive collaboration,鈥� Halasyamani said. Recently, one of their papers was selected to be part of the 鈥淏est of Advanced Optical Materials 2017鈥� issue.
As a theorist, Rondinelli is known for developing an algorithm that can predict a structure鈥檚 acentricity, which is a property essential for crystals which can be used in solid-state lasers.
鈥淭his helps us understand the structure, and why we鈥檙e seeing certain properties,鈥� Halasyamani said. 鈥淩ondinelli is one of the few researchers that can do this.鈥�
Meanwhile, Halasyamani鈥檚 research group specializes in synthesizing materials and
growing crystals.
鈥淪imply doing experiments isn鈥檛 enough, and simply making predictions isn鈥檛 enough,鈥�
Halasyamani said. 鈥淏oth sides need each other.鈥�
- Rachel Fairbank, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics