Clemson University

Other

United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Medical University of South Carolina

Joseph William Kolis

Colin D McMillen

J Matthew Mann

Henry G Giesber, Iii

James M Mann

John Ballato

Christopher R Feger

Eric Michael Hunt

Steven J Syracuse

Terry M Tritt

Kyle Fulle

Duminda Sanjeewa

Roy L Littleton

Rylan J Terry

Hydrothermal methods for the synthesis of bulk crystals of alkaline earth metal stannates are described. Methods can be utilized for growth of large, single crystals of alkaline earth metal stannates including fully cubic BaSnOand SrSnO.

Hydrothermal method for growth of alkaline earth metal stannate bulk single crystals and crystals formed thereby

Terbium-based Faraday rotators, optical isolators incorporating the Faraday rotators, and methods for forming the Faraday rotators are described. Formation methods include hydrothermal growth methods for forming monolithic single crystals of TbO(OH) as Faraday rotator materials. TbO(OH) can also be used as a starting material in a hydrothermal growth method to form monolithic single crystals of TbYbO, in which x is between about 0.05 and about 1 or terbium aluminum garnet TAG for use as a Faraday rotator in an optical isolator.

Faraday rotators of terbium oxyhydroxide

Heterogeneous monolithic crystals that can include multiple regimes in a complex geometry are described. The crystals can be advantageously utilized in laser applications. The heterogeneous crystals can be created through growth of different regimes in interior voids formed in a seed crystal, which can in turn be homogeneous or heterogeneous. In one particular embodiment, a regime can be grown within a void of a seed crystal by use of a hydrothermal growth process. Formed crystals can be utilized in lasing and waveguiding applications, among others.

Monolithic heterogeneous single crystals with multiple regimes for solid state laser applications

A method of synthesizing uranium dioxide crystals. The method of synthesizing includes combining a uranium-based feedstock with a mineralizer solution. The uranium-based feedstock is selected from uranium dioxide, uranium tetrafluoride, uranium tetrachloride, triuranium octoxide, and uranium trioxide. The feedstock and mineralizer solution are pressurized, and then a thermal gradient is applied thereto such that a first portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution is heated to a temperature that is greater than a temperature of a second portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution. The uranium nutrient enters the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion and uranium nutrient precipitates to spontaneously form crystals in the second portion.

Uranium dioxide-based crystals and methods of fabrication

Single heterogeneous crystals are described that contain multiple regimes, adjacent regimes varying from one another with regard to function. Also disclosed is a hydrothermal epitaxial growth process that can be utilized to form the single heterogeneous crystals. The single heterogeneous crystals can exhibit enhanced performance when used as a laser gain medium as compared to previously known single crystals and multi-crystal constructs. The heterogeneous single crystal can be utilized for thin disk lasers and can minimize the thermal distortion effects at high powers. The heterogeneous crystal can also serve as an embedded waveguide.

Single crystals with internal doping with laser ions prepared by a hydrothermal method

Disclosed are heterogeneous crystals for use in a laser cavity and methods of forming the crystals. A crystal can be a monolithic crystal containing a garnet-based activator region and a garnet-based Q-switch. Disclosed methods include hydrothermal growth techniques for the growth of differing epitaxial layers on a host. A YAG host material can be doped in one region with a suitable activator ion for lasing and can be formed with another region that is doped with a saturable absorber to form the Q-switch. Regions can be formed with controlled thickness in conjunction. Following formation, a heterogeneous crystal can be cut, polished and coated with mirror films at each end for use in a laser cavity to provide short pulses of high power emissions using high frequency pulse modes.

Method for forming heterogeneous single garnet based crystals for passive Q-switched lasers and microlasers

Disclosed are heterogeneous crystals for use in a laser cavity and methods of forming the crystals. A crystal can be a monolithic crystal containing a vanadate-based activator region and a vanadate-based Q-switch. Disclosed methods include hydrothermal growth techniques for the growth of differing layers on a host. A YVOhost material can be doped in one region with a suitable active lasing ion and can be formed with another region that is doped with a saturable absorber. Regions can be formed with controlled thickness. Following formation, a heterogeneous crystal can be cut, polished and coated with mirror films at each end for use in a laser cavity to provide short pulses of high power emissions using high frequency pulse modes.

Heterogeneous single vanadate based crystals for Q-switched lasers and microlasers and method for forming same

Single crystals are described that contain several regimes within the crystal that perform different functions related to the enhanced performance of a laser gain medium. At least one regime of the single crystals can be utilized to suppress amplified spontaneous emission and parasitic oscillation in a laser gain medium. A single crystal can include core and cladding regions, the cladding region providing amplified spontaneous emission suppression. The core region of the crystal can include as dopant one or more ions that take part in the lasing when suitably pumped. The amplified spontaneous emission suppression region can include as dopant one or more ions that can prevent additional spontaneous emission that can to depletion of the upper laser states, thus reducing laser performance including one or more ions that absorb spontaneously emitted photons and/or a higher concentration of the active lasing ions of the core.

Hydrothermal growth of heterogeneous single crystals exhibiting amplified spontaneous emission suppression

Disclosed are heterogeneous crystals for use in a laser cavity and methods of forming the crystals. A crystal can be a monolithic crystal containing regions that are based upon the same host material but differ from one another according to some material feature such that they can perform various functions related to lasing. Disclosed methods include hydrothermal growth techniques for the growth of differing epitaxial layers on a host. A host material can be doped in one region with a suitable active lasing ion and can be formed with another region that is undoped and can act as an endcap, a waveguide cladding layer, or a substrate to provide strength and/or contact to a heat sink. Regions can be formed with controlled thickness in conjunction. Following formation, a heterogeneous crystal can be cut, polished and coated with mirror films at each end for use in a laser cavity.

Hydrothermal growth of heterogeneous single crystals for solid state laser applications

Single, acentric, rhombohedral, fluoroberyllium borate crystals of a size sufficient for use in a variety of laser and non-optical applications are formed by a hydrothermal method.

Rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystals and hydrothermal growth thereof for use in laser and non-linear optical applications and devices

Single, acentric, hexagonal, beryllium borate crystals having the formula SrBeBOand of a size sufficient for use in a variety of laser and non-optical applications are formed by a hydrothermal method. Alternate structures are formed by partially substituting the strontium ion with at least one other divalent metal ion.

Hydrothermal growth of hexagonal beryllium borate crystals for use in laser non-linear optical and birefringent applications and devices

Scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide sesquioxide crystals having the formula LnO, wherein Ln is selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, with or without an activator ion, are made by a hydrothermal method for a variety of end-use applications.

Hydrothermal method for preparing large single crystals of scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide sesquioxides

Single, acentric, rhombohedral, potassium fluoroberyllium borate crystals of a size sufficient for use in a variety of laser and non-optical applications are formed by a hydrothermal method.

Hydrothermal growth of rhombohedral potassium fluoroberyllium borate crystals for use in laser and non-linear optical applications and devices

Acentric, tetragonal lithium borate crystals are disclosed along with a hydrothermal method for forming such crystals. The crystals possess unique optical, non-linear optical, and other photonic properties and may be formed of sufficient size to be useful in a wide variety of photonic devices. In addition, the disclosed crystals are very hard and can be used in specialty grinding applications such as for grinding optical components for deep UV applications.

Growing community of inventors

Central, SC, United States of America

Joseph William Kolis