Departmental Colloquium

Optical properties of rare-earth ions in solids and their applications

Karine Le Bris
Ecole Polytechnique Montreal

Time
Fri. November 11, 2005     12:30 PM     Room 501

Abstract

Rare-earth materials play an important role in modern optical technology. A non-exhaustive list of their applications includes sensors, lasers, data optical storage, quantum optics and electro-optics devices. The partially filled f-shells of the rare earth ions, shielded by outer filled s- and p- shells, allow spectrally narrow electronic transitions at wavelengths ranging from the far infrared to the vacuum ultraviolet. This distinctive characteristic, associated with the long coherence lifetime of these elements, enable the development of exciting new technologies. In this talk, I will present an overview of some of the most important optical properties of rare-earth materials detectable by traditional and nonlinear spectroscopic techniques.

Refreshments will be available after the talk. Dr Le Bris is a short-listed candidate for the recently-advertised Engineering Physics position.

List of upcoming talks and colloquia