Study of nonlinear refraction in ion doped solids

• Grant number: 12/01173-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: July 26, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Tomaz Catunda
• Grantee: Yves Maia Auad
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/24088-1 - Internship at Univ. de Caen to study excited state absorption in solids doped with rare earth ions, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

This project aims the improvement of the Z-scan technique applied to the determination of nonlinear refractive index, n2, of laser materials. This n2 effect appears due to the difference in polarizability (D a) of fundamental and excited states of the dopant ions (usually transition metals or rare earth). In implementing these measures, we will use the time-resolved Z-scan technique. In this project we propose some improvements in experimental methodology to improve the temporal resolution of the measurement and make measurements at low temperatures (using a cryostat). (AU)