Abstract: An optical nanocomposite containing optically active crystals and suitable to be drawn into fiber form, dissolved into solution and subsequently deposited as a thin film, or used as a bulk optical component. This invention integrates compositional tailoring to enable matching of optical properties (index, dispersion, do/dT), specialized dispersion methods to ensure homogeneous physical dispersion of NCs within the glass matrix during preparation, while minimizing agglomeration and mismatch of coefficient of thermal expansion. By tailoring the base glass composition's viscosity versus temperature profile, the resulting bulk nanocomposite can be further formed to create an optical fiber, while maintaining physical dispersion of NCs, avoiding segregation of the NCs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical aberration compensation lens using glass-ceramics and a method of making the same. The method of manufacturing the optical aberration compensation lens includes applying at least one heat treatment to a base glass material of a base composition to form a glass-ceramic material with a volume filling fraction of one or more species of nanocrystals. This process is glass composition agnostic and can be applied to generate any glass-ceramic composition formed through controlled nucleation and growth. In certain embodiments, the species and/or volume filling fraction of nanocrystals determines the resulting index of refraction and dispersion characteristic. Accordingly, application of different heat treatments (e.g., nucleation temperature, growth temperature, and/or treatment times) to the same base glass material produces different glass-ceramic materials with different optical properties (e.g., index of refraction and/or dispersion characteristic).

Abstract: Gradient refractive index (GRIN) materials can include multi-phase composites having substances with differing refractive indices disposed non-uniformly within one another. Particular glass composites having a gradient index of refraction can include: an amorphous phase, and a phase-separated region disposed non-uniformly within the amorphous phase. The glass composites include a mixture containing: GeZ2 and A2Z3 in a combined molar ratio of about 60% to about 95%, and CsX and PbZ in a combined molar ratio of about 5% to about 40%, where A is As, Sb or Ga, X is Cl, Br or I, and Z is S or Se. When A is As, the glass composites include PbZ in a molar ratio of about 15% or less. The amorphous phase and the phase-separated region have refractive indices that differ from one another. More particularly, A is Ga or As, X is Cl, and Z is Se.

Abstract: A device for inducing by thermal poling a spatially controlled refractive index gradient inside at least one amorphous inorganic material to be treated, includes a structured electrode arranged on the surface or in proximity to the surface of the material to be treated; and at least one dielectric material. The structured electrode includes at least one conductive zone and at least one non-conductive zone and it is confined between the amorphous inorganic material to be treated and the dielectric material.

Abstract: An optical nanocomposite containing optically active crystals (rare earth or transition metal doped) in a suitably index-, dispersion-, thermo-optically matched matrix enables creation of a glass ceramic with unique optical properties. By further tuning the viscosity of the composite, it can be drawn into fiber form, dissolved into solution and subsequently deposited as a thin film, or used as a bulk optical component. Critical to achieving a viable material is closely matching the attributes needed to not only achieve optical function but to enable fabrication under elevated temperatures (i.e., during fiber drawing) or in unique chemical or thermal environments, such as during deposition as a thin film. This invention uses nanosized crystalline powders (nanocrystals—NC), blended with multicomponent chalcogenide glass (ChG) to form an optical nanocomposite.

Abstract: A device for inducing by thermal poling a spatially controlled refractive index gradient inside at least one amorphous inorganic material to be treated, includes a structured electrode arranged on the surface or in proximity to the surface of the material to be treated; and at least one dielectric material. The structured electrode includes at least one conductive zone and at least one non-conductive zone and it is confined between the amorphous inorganic material to be treated and the dielectric material.

Abstract: Gradient refractive index (GRIN) materials can include multi-phase composites having substances with differing refractive indices disposed non-uniformly within one another. Particular glass composites having a gradient index of refraction can include: an amorphous phase, and a phase-separated region disposed non-uniformly within the amorphous phase. The glass composites include a mixture containing: GeZ2 and A2Z3 in a combined molar ratio of about 60% to about 95%, and CsX and PbZ in a combined molar ratio of about 5% to about 40%, where A is As, Sb or Ga, X is Cl, Br or I, and Z is S or Se. When A is As, the glass composites include PbZ in a molar ratio of about 15% or less. The amorphous phase and the phase-separated region have refractive indices that differ from one another. More particularly, A is Ga or As, X is Cl, and Z is Se.

Abstract: A refractive index device and method of making it include obtaining a glass structure comprising a plurality of nucleation sites. The glass structure is formed from a glass composition that comprises a first chemical component and a second chemical component. A crystal of the second chemical component has a different second refractive index from a first refractive index of the first chemical component. Each nucleation site defines where a crystal of the second chemical component can be grown. The method includes causing crystals of the second chemical component to grow in situ at a set of the plurality of nucleation sites in order to produce a spatial gradient of a refractive index in the glass structure.

Abstract: Gradient refractive index (GRIN) materials can include multi-phase composites having substances with differing refractive indices disposed non-uniformly within one another. Particular glass composites having a gradient index of refraction can include: an amorphous phase, and a phase-separated region disposed non-uniformly within the amorphous phase. The glass composites include a mixture containing: GeZ2 and A2Z3 in a combined molar ratio of about 60% to about 95%, and CsX and PbZ in a combined molar ratio of about 5% to about 40%, where A is As, Sb or Ga, X is Cl, Br or I, and Z is S or Se. When A is As, the glass composites include PbZ in a molar ratio of about 15% or less. The amorphous phase and the phase-separated region have refractive indices that differ from one another. More particularly, A is Ga or As, X is Cl, and Z is Se.

Abstract: Ternary chalcogenide glass materials containing germanium can display enhanced properties compared to corresponding binary chalcogenide glass materials lacking germanium. For instance, ternary chalcogenide glass materials containing germanium, arsenic and selenium can exhibit improved Vickers micro-hardness values and other enhanced mechanical properties while still maintaining small changes in refractive index as function of temperature. Such ternary glass materials can have a formula of (AsySez)[(100-x)·0.01]Gex, in which x ranges between about 1 and 5, y ranges between about 30 and 40, z ranges between about 60 and 70, and y+z=100. Methods for producing the ternary glass materials can include blending arsenic, selenium, and germanium as a melt, and cooling the melt to form the ternary glass material.

Abstract: Ternary chalcogenide glass materials containing germanium can display enhanced properties compared to corresponding binary chalcogenide glass materials lacking germanium. For instance, ternary chalcogenide glass materials containing germanium, arsenic and selenium can exhibit improved Vickers micro-hardness values and other enhanced mechanical properties while still maintaining small changes in refractive index as function of temperature. Such ternary glass materials can have a formula of (AsySez)[(100?x)·0.01]Gex, in which x ranges between about 1 and 5, y ranges between about 30 and 40, z ranges between about 60 and 70, and y+z=100. Methods for producing the ternary glass materials can include blending arsenic, selenium, and germanium as a melt, and cooling the melt to form the ternary glass material.

Abstract: Gradient refractive index (GRIN) materials can include multi-phase composites having substances with differing refractive indices disposed non-uniformly within one another. Particular glass composites having a gradient index of refraction can include: an amorphous phase, and a phase-separated region disposed non-uniformly within the amorphous phase. The glass composites include a mixture containing: GeZ2 and A2Z3 in a combined molar ratio of about 60% to about 95%, and CsX and PbZ in a combined molar ratio of about 5% to about 40%, where A is As, Sb or Ga, X is Cl, Br or I, and Z is S or Se. When A is As, the glass composites include PbZ in a molar ratio of about 15% or less. The amorphous phase and the phase-separated region have refractive indices that differ from one another. More particularly, A is Ga or As, X is Cl, and Z is Se.

Abstract: A refractive index device and method of making it include obtaining a glass structure comprising a plurality of nucleation sites. The glass structure is formed from a glass composition that comprises a first chemical component and a second chemical component. A crystal of the second chemical component has a different second refractive index from a first refractive index of the first chemical component. Each nucleation site defines where a crystal of the second chemical component can be grown. The method includes causing crystals of the second chemical component to grow in situ at a set of the plurality of nucleation sites in order to produce a spatial gradient of a refractive index in the glass structure.

Abstract: A refractive index device and method of making it include obtaining a glass structure comprising a plurality of nucleation sites. The glass structure is formed from a glass composition that comprises a first chemical component and a second chemical component. A crystal of the second chemical component has a different second refractive index from a first refractive index of the first chemical component. Each nucleation site defines where a crystal of the second chemical component can be grown. The method includes causing crystals of the second chemical component to grow in situ at a set of the plurality of nucleation sites in order to produce a spatial gradient of a refractive index in the glass structure.

Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide includes a substrate, a waveguide under-cladding layer disposed on the substrate, and a waveguide core, having top and sidewall surfaces, disposed on the under-cladding layer. A glassy surface smoothing layer disposed on the waveguide core top surface and sidewall surfaces and has a refractive index, relative to a refractive index of the waveguide core, that enables guided optical transmission through the waveguide core and the glassy surface smoothing layer. In fabrication of the optical waveguide, a waveguide under-cladding layer is formed on a substrate and a waveguide core having sidewall surfaces and a top surface is formed on the under-cladding layer. A liquid suspension comprising particles of a glassy material is applied on the top and sidewall surfaces of the waveguide core. The applied liquid glassy particle suspension is heated to form a glassy surface smoothing layer on the waveguide core top surface and sidewall surfaces.