Research Goal: The development of a single optical component with spatially varying properties (GRIN materials). Using Ge-As-Pb-Se chalcogenide glasses as a testbed, we demonstrate a controlled crystallization process to convert them into spatially tuned glass-ceramic nanocomposites.
Funding Agency: DARPA-MTO & Physical Science Inc (PSI)
Participants: Junior B. J. Sop Tagne, Lam Tran, and Zephyr G. Ramsey
Relevant Publications:
- R. Alvarez* et al., “Demonstration of Photothermally-Induced GRIN Profiles in Bulk Chalcogenide GAP-Se Glasses,” Adv. Opt. Mater. 12, 2401552 (2024).
- G. B. J. Sop Tagne et al., “Facile Scalable Manufacturing and Multi-faceted Cross-Correlating Characterization of Bulk GRIN Chalcogenide Materials,” to be submitted.
- Z. G. Ramsey, † L. Tran, † et al., “In-Situ Metrological Approach to the Realization of Controlled Crystallization in Multicomponent Chalcogenide Glasses,” to be submitted.
Research Goal: To expedite the relaxation rate of glasses using a novel thermo-ultrasonication process. The As₂S₃ chalcogenide glass system is ideal due to its low Tg and prevalent use as optical materials. Ultrasonic vibrations at elevated temperatures accelerate relaxation, and we study the structural and stress relaxations through a combined theoretical-experimental approach.
Funding Agency: NSF-ASCENT
Participants: Patrick E. Lynch and Lam Tran
Relevant Publications:
- P. E. Lynch, † L. Tran, † et al., “Accelerated Low-Temperature Stabilization of Glasses via Thermo-Ultrasonication,” under review, MRS Bull.
Research Goal: To correlate the time-dependent structural and optical responses of Ge-Sb-S bulk glasses to metastable topological coordination defects created by gamma-ray exposure. A combined theoretical-experimental approach is used to monitor optical, electronic, morphological, chemical, and microstructural properties as a function of time.
Funding Agency: DTRA
Participant: Patrick E. Lynch
Relevant Publications:
- M. Kang* et al., “Self-Healing Mechanisms for Ge-Sb-S Chalcogenide Glasses Upon Gamma Irradiation,” MRS Bull. 49, 778 (2024). [Cover issue]
Research Goal: To employ a 3-D programmable electrospray system to co-print high figure-of-merit Sb₂S₃ and Sb₂Se₃ optical phase change materials in a spatially varying manner. This scalable approach aims to create reconfigurable 3-D platforms that exhibit gradient refractive index changes upon switching.
Funding Agency: Seeking a grant
Participants: Lam Tran and Zephyr G. Ramsey
Relevant Publications:
- M. Kang* et al., “Solution-Derived Ge-Sb-Se-Te Phase-Change Chalcogenide Films,” Sci. Rep. 14, 18151 (2024).
Research Goal: We employ a versatile approach for the realization of high precision micro-grating structures made of chalcogenide glass layers on either flat or curved platforms. We have demonstrated a novel photo-chemical process to spatially tailor the geometry of micro-gratings within As2S3 films and created broadband diffraction optical elements (DOEs). The flexibility of the photo-chemical process and resulting optical functionality of the DOEs provides a glimpse into our vision for grating-based thin components that rival the performance of traditional bulky optics.
Funding Agency: DARPA-EXTREME
Participants: Junior B. J. Sop Tagne
Relevant Publications:
- M. Kang†*, B. M. Triplett†, M. Y. Shalaginov†, S. Deckoff-Jones, C. Blanco, M. Truman, E. V. Shirshneva-Vashchenko, J. Cook, T. S. Karnik, Q. Du, C.-C. Popescu, A. Zachariou, Y. Zhang, C. M. Schwarz, S. An, C. Fowler, H. Zhang, I. Divliansky, L. B. Glebov, M. C. Richardson, A. M. Agarwal, C. Rivero-Baleine, J. Hu, T. Gu*, and K. A. Richardson, “Photochemically-Patterned Large-Area Arsenic Sulfide Micro-Gratings for Hybrid Diffractive-Refractive Platforms,” Adv. Photonics Res. 5, 2300241 (2024). [Selected as a cover issue]
- G. B. J. Sop Tagne, B. M. Triplett, M. Y. Shalaginov, S. Deckoff-Jones, T. S. Karnik, S. Son, M. C. Richardson, A. M. Agarwal, C. Rivero-Baleine, J. Hu, T. Gu, K. A. Richardson, and M. Kang*, “Optical Nonlinearity and Spatial Fidelity in Direct Laser Writing Process,” to be submitted