9322111 Dixon This REU Site award provides an opportunity for nine under- graduate students to gain research experience in theoretical and experimental studies of the physical properties of optical materials and lasers. The participants will be involved in closely related, individual projects in nine laboratories within the Department of Physics and Center for Laser Research. The projects will focus on the properties of laser-host and electro- optic materials, such as oxide and fluoride glasses, lithium yttrium fluoride, bismuth silicon oxide, and III-V and II-VI semiconductor compounds and quantum well devices, all of which have present or near term application in optical devices. The participants will be actively involved in nine related projects involving crystal growth, time-resolved site-selection spectroscopy, laser instabilities, growth and optical characterization of quantum well structures, thermal and electrical transport properties, light scattering, and thermally and optically stimulated luminescence. %%% This program introduces outstanding undergraduate scientists to the area of optical materials and lasers at a formative stage in their careers. The materials to be investigated (e.g., laser host, electro-optic, photo refractive and colloidal) are high technology materials for current and future generation optical systems. All of the investigations will be undertaken in state- of-the-art laboratories. All of the faculty mentors have had successful experience with undergraduates in their laboratories. Particular emphasis will be given to the participation of women and minorities. ***
