Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparation of an ultraviolet (UV)-curable inorganic-organic hybrid resin containing about or less than 4% volatiles and less than 30% organic residues. The UV-curable inorganic-organic hybrid resin obtained according to this method can be UV-cured within a markedly very short time and enables, upon curing, the formation of a transparent shrink-and crack-free glass-like product having high optical quality, high thermal stability and good bonding properties. In view of these properties, this hybrid resin can be used in various applications such as electro-optic, microelectronic, stereolithography and biophotonic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparation of an ultraviolet (UV)-curable inorganic-organic hybrid resin containing about or less than 4% volatiles and less than 30% organic residues. The UV-curable inorganic-organic hybrid resin obtained according to this method can be UV-cured within a markedly very short time and enables, upon curing, the formation of a transparent shrink- and crack-free glass-like product having high optical quality, high thermal stability and good bonding properties. In view of these properties, this hybrid resin can be used in various applications such as electro-optic, microelectronic, stereolithography and biophotonic applications.

Abstract: Optical apparatus including a pump-guiding fiber (30) including a fiber cladding (31), a fiber core (32) and an attachment section (33), the attachment section (33) including a straight core section (34) and a tapered core section (35), the pump-guiding fiber (30) being optically attached at one end thereof to a pump source (29) and an opposite end of the pump-guiding fiber (30) being attached to an inner clad (42) of a receiving fiber (40) through an attachment section (50), the attachment section (50) including both the straight core section (34) and the tapered core section (35) of the pump-guiding fiber (30), characterized in that both the straight core section (34) and the tapered core section (35) of the pump-guiding fiber (30) are attached to the receiving fiber (40) with an intermediate sol-gel material (51).

Abstract: Styryl dyes and compositions which exhibit superior two-photon absorption cross-sections and are useful in two-photon pumped cavity lasing, two-photon pumped upconversion lasing, optical power limiting, optical power stabilization, optical signal reshaping, and infrared beam detection and indication are disclosed. Also disclosed are multiphasic nanostructured composites which include a glass having pores, an optically active coating material on the pore surface, and a polymeric material in the pores. These composites are useful in producing multifunctional optical materials, such as broadly tunable lasers. Methods for killing cells and viruses using a photosensitizer and a two-photon upconverting dye are also described. These methods are especially useful to kill cells and viruses in biological materials, such as in photodynamic therapy of tumors and cancers or blood purification protocols.