Measurement of the nonlinear refractive index in phosphobismuthate glasses

• Grant number: 24/04335-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Cleber Renato Mendonça
• Grantee: Théo Fonseca Guedes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/11283-7 - Nonlinear photonics: spectroscopy and advanced processing of materials, AP.TEM

Abstract

Glass materials are being intensely investigated due to their high optical nonlinearities, which enable them both for basic research and technological applications. The interest in these materials is linked to the fact that highly polarizable dopants can be incorporated into them, giving rise to high optical nonlinearities, even under non-resonant conditions [1]. Furthermore, glassy materials offer great flexibility for optimizing nonlinear optical response through manipulation of their composition.In this work, specifically, nonlinear processes will be studied in the phosphobimutate Bi(PO3)3 - Bi2O3 - Na2O glass system, which should exhibit relevant nonlinear optical properties. In general, highly polarizable atoms present in these glasses have their electronic cloud easily deformable in the presence of the electromagnetic field, leading to significant non-linear responses. Particularly, lead and bismuth oxides have been excellent candidates in this regard.