The objective of this work is to synthesize silver coated nanoparticles which have, among other novel optical properties, the ability to generate phase conjugate light with low incident light intensities. The experimental program consists of two parts: 1) determining the experimental parameters required to generate thin smooth coats of silver on nonlinear dielectric cores, 2) verifying that the coated particles have the computed scattering and extinction spectra and are able to generate phase conjugate light as predicted. The coated particles will have applications in nonlinear optics, for example, in phase conjugate mirrors or optical signal processing devices, and may also have applications as optical filters. With these composite materials it should be possible to make devices which can operate with less powerful and less expensive light sources than those required now.
