Microstructured Nonlinear Optical Material

We intend to develop the process to produce an engineered nonlinear material whose properties are patterned on the micron scale to enable the conversion of infrared light to the visible at high efficiency. This patterned material will form the substrate for a waveguide light generator to produce a breakthrough product. The new technology makes possible the transformation of electrical energy into blue light with one hundred times the efficiency, one third the cost, and one thousandth of the size of its nearest competitor, the air-cooled argon laser. Anticipated Benefits: This new material will make possible the production of inexpensive visible light sources which will replace existing lasers in color separation machines and medical diagnostics. Several new applications, principally high density optical data storage, will also be made possible.