A photorefractive organically modified silica glass with high optical gain

ABSTRACT Photorefractive materials1 exhibit a spatial modulation of the refractive index due to redistribution of photogenerated charges in an optically nonlinear medium. As such, they have

the ability to manipulate light and are potentially important for optical applications1 including image processing, optical storage, programmable optical interconnects and simulation of

neural networks. Photorefractive materials are generally crystals, polymers and glasses with electro-optic or birefringent properties and non-centrosymmetric structure2. Here we report the

photorefractive effect in both non-centrosymmetric and centrosymmetric azo-dye-doped silica glasses, in which refractive index gratings that are spatially phase-shifted with respect to the

incident light intensity pattern are observed. The effect results from a non-local response of the material to optical illumination, and enables the transfer of energy between two

interfering light beams (asymmetric two-beam coupling). Although the writing time for the present grating is relatively slow, we have achieved a two-beam coupling optical gain of 188 cm-1 in

the centrosymmetric glasses, and a gain of 444 cm-1 in the non-centrosymmetric structures. The latter are fabricated using a corona discharge process3 to induce a permanent arrangement of

azo-dye chromophores. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution

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references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank N. Kukhtarev, S. Janz, J. Roovers and I. Lévesque for stimulating discussions. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Institute for National

Measurement Standards, National Research Council, Ottawa , K1A 0R6, Canada Pavel Cheben & Chander P. Grover * Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California,

Los Angeles, 90095, California, USA Francisco del Monte & John D. Mackenzie * Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Cantoblanco ,

Madrid, 28049, Spain Francisco del Monte * Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology, National Research Council, Ottawa, K1A 0R6, Canada Dennis J. Worsfold & Dave J.

Carlsson Authors * Pavel Cheben View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Francisco del Monte View author publications You can also search for

this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Dennis J. Worsfold View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Dave J. Carlsson View author publications You

can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Chander P. Grover View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * John D. Mackenzie View

author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Pavel Cheben. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT

THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Cheben, P., del Monte, F., Worsfold, D. _et al._ A photorefractive organically modified silica glass with high optical gain. _Nature_ 408, 64–67 (2000).

https://doi.org/10.1038/35040513 Download citation * Received: 05 June 2000 * Accepted: 30 August 2000 * Issue Date: 02 November 2000 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35040513 SHARE THIS

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