Funds are provided for the purchase an Alexandrite laser for nonlinear optical (NLO) materials research. The University is following a long-term plan to significantly upgrade its Laser/NLO Research Laboratory to support research activities in two areas (i) characterization of the third-order susceptibility of highly photorefractive NLO materials of interest for optical switching, optical computing, and optical power limiting applications; and (2) research into the properties Of gamma-irradiated color centers and impurity doped crystals of interest for spectrally tunable solid-state lasers, passive Q-switches, and mode-lockers. The currently available lasers are limited to certain fixed wavelengths and temporal pulse shapes. A laser source with a variable wavelength and temporal pulse width is a necessity for NLO materials research being performed in this laboratory. The instrument also is useful for enhancing the education of the undergraduate and graduates students who participate in the laboratory.
