Nonlinear & microstructured optical materials

Novel devices and technologies are emerging from the application of material structuring to existing nonlinear optical crystalline hosts. Ferroelectrics such as LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 which have found recent success in the field of periodic poling, can be domain processed to yield a range of nano- and microscale structures such as tips, cantilevers, and surface domain features.

This range of projects looks at the applications for structured ferroelectrics using a range of optical, and mixed optical/ electrical routes to patterning such materials on the micron and sub-micron scale. Lasers operating in the c.w., ns and fs regimes are used for optical processing, at wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the near infrared.

Recent results have shown that it is possible to form extremely precise and controllable structures such as optical waveguides, micro-resonators, gratings, periodic structures and a whole range of surface topographies that lead to the use of LiNbO3 as a universal host material for an optical lab-on-a-chip.

Supervisor: Dr Sakelaris Mailis

The particular projects that are available within this framework are:

·         Development of ultra-smooth free standing whispering gallery mode nonlinear electro-optic micro-resonators for sensing applications.

·         Development of integrated nonlinear ring and disc electro-optic microresonators based on domain engineered lithium niobate waveguide superstructures.

·         Ferroelectric substrates for life science interface. Ferroelectric crystals possess a wide range of useful electronic mechanical and photonic properties. This project aims at implementing these properties to develop multifunctional micro-devices to be used in the life science interface.

Group webpage

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