NEW MATERIALS AND THEIR CHARACTERIZATION FOR PHOTONIC DEVICE APPLICATIONS

Recent advances in materials technology has led to the development of new and improved optically nonlinear materials that can be used for a wide variety of applications ranging from deep UV conversion for laser fusion experiments to fast optical switching devices in future telecommunication systems. The processibility that many of these new materials have to offer will allow devices to be designed for specific applications. Some recent developments in the search for new materials are described and the future role that some of these may play in the design of nonlinear optical devices is discussed.