Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/J40805/01
Title:	ABLATED CHALCOGENIDE FILMS FOR INFRARED LASERS & DEVICES-REVISED RESUBMISSION
Principal Investigator:	Rutt, Professor HN
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	BT Central Research Laboratories Ltd
Department:	Electronics and Computer Science
Organisation:	University of Southampton
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	14 March 1994	Ends:	13 March 1997	Value (£):	271,801
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Processing Optoelect. Devices & Circuits
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
There is a serious lack of compact, efficient mid infrared lasers and devices. We have a group of nine companies who have documented their need for improvements in this area, and interaction with them will guide the technological objectives of the program. Several will provide minor support 'in kind'. Efficient laser oscillators and amplifiers in the infrared beyond ~1.6 microns require low phonon energy hosts to provide low non-radiative rates. In proof of principle experiments we have shown that rare earth dopable La-Ga-S chalcogenide glasses which show this property can be deposited very successfully by laser ablation. Raman and absorption spectroscopy, EDX and RBS confirm that the films are similar to the bulk glass, although sulphur stoichiometry may differ. We observe permanent photorefractive effects, photobleaching, e-beam induced gratings, and possibly 'photodiffusion' (optically enhanced 'diffusion' of silver ions into the glass) in these films. They are adherent, low scatter and structureless under SEM observation, but there is strong evidence that improved vacuum conditions are required. These films uniquely combine low non-radiative rates and rare earth doping with a range of index modification and possibly high n2 values, rendering them of exceptional interest from both a physics and device viewpoint. We propose a three year program based on laser ablation of the glasses to characterise their properties and device potential. The wide range of glasses (Bi, Ge, Ag, In can be incorporated to modify their properties) and effect show great potential as confirmed by our industrial group.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.soton.ac.uk