USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Case Western Reserve University

Baer, Eric

James S Shirk

Eric Baer

Steven R Flom

Arthur W Snow

Richard G S Pong

Anne Hiltner

P Anne Hiltner

Mason Wolak

Eva M Maya

Guy Beadie

Richard Flynn

Predrag Milojkovic

Michael E Boyle

Joseph Mait

Filbert J Bartoli

Joseph F Pinto

James R Lindle

Steven R Carlo

Joel Carr

Zheng Zhou

Matthew Mackey

Richard G Pong

Richard S Pong

Anne P Hiltner

Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.

Independent control of both index and dispersion in gradient index optics

A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a stack of coextruded, alternating first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers that receive electrical charge. The first dielectric layers include a first polymer material and the second dielectric layers include a second polymer material different from the first polymer material. The first polymer material has a permittivity greater than the second polymer material. The second polymer material has a breakdown strength greater than the first polymer material. Adjoining first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers define an interface between the layers that delocalizes electrical charge build-up in the layers. The stack has substantially the crystallographic symmetry before and during receiving electrical charge.

Multilayer polymer dielectric film

Multilayer polymer film having a charge-delocalizing interface

A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a coextruded first dielectric layer and second dielectric layer. The first dielectric includes a first polymer material and the second dielectric layer includes a second polymer material. The first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer defining an interface between the layers that delocalizes charges in the layers.

Multilayer polymer dialectric film having a charge-delocalizing interface

High concentrations of dye may be prepared in combination with thermoplastic polymers and used in optical polymers as monomeric and dimeric molecular solutions. The method of preparing high concentration levels allows the control over the aggregation of dye molecules that is required to maintain effective nonlinear operation. The present invention is applicable to many systems and is essential to the successful production of working optical limiting devices and other optically transparent polymeric devices, as well as other photonic applications, such as nonlinear optics.

Fabricating polymers for optical devices

The present invention is phthalocyanine compounds with peripheral siloxane substitution, as well as methods for making these compounds and various uses thereof, having the basic structure: wherein

Phthalocyanines with peripheral siloxane substitution

A new class of composite polymer films where the refractive index can be varied by simple compressive or extensive forces. The films are comprised of alternating layers of an elastomer and a glassy polymer or two different elastomers. When the layer spacing is much less than the wavelength of the probe light, these materials behave as effective medium composites. The layer thickness of the elastomer component and thus the effective index of the composite can be varied by compression, tension or shear.

Variable refractive index polymer materials

Disclosed are axial, radial or spherical gradient index (GRIN) lenses fabricated by layering composite polymer films into an hierarchical structure.

Multilayer polymer gradient index (GRIN) lenses

The invention provides an optical filter comprising: The substrate may be a UV-transparent nanoporous silica glass solid having pores that are substantially filled with a UV-transparent solvent, which has been selected to dissolve said dye and also to match the refractive index of the nanoporous silica glass solid. Alternatively, the substrate may be a UV-transparent inorganic salt compressed to form a solid body. The invention also provides for methods of making these embodiments and an optical device comprising such an optical filter. The filter provides an efficient solar blind filter that is chemically and dimensionally stable.

Optical filter comprising solar blind dyes and UV-transparent substrates

The present invention is phthalocyanine compounds with peripheral siloxane substitution, as well as methods for making these compounds and various uses thereof, having the basic structure:wherein

The invention provides an optical filter comprising:

Optical filters comprising solar blind dyes and UV-transparent substrates

A multilayer nonlinear dielectric optical structure is formed by coextruding at least two polymeric materials, components (a) and (b), using a multiplying element; the structure contains a plurality of alternating layers (A) and (B) represented by formula (AB) , where x&equals;2 , and n is the number of multiplying elements; at least one of the components (a) and (b) exhibits nonlinear optical response. These structures perform a variety of nonlinear optical functions including all-optical switching and passive optical limiting.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

James S Shirk