Quantum Dot Optical Amplifiers and Lasers

Abstract
LANL scientists have developed an optical amplifier and laser based on semiconductor nanocrystal solids (quantum dot solids). Nanocrystals can be manipulated as large molecules and can be prepared either in the form of closely packed films (quantum dot solids) or incorporated into glasses or polymers. Because of the effects quantum confinement, the emission spectra of quantum dots can be tuned by changing the particle size, which allows one to easily meet spectral requirements of a particular application. Lasers and amplifiers based on CdSe nanocrystals, for example, can be tuned throughout the entire visible spectral range, while PbSe nanocrystals offer optical amplification in the range of near- and mid-infrared spectral energies. Using sol-gel technologies developed at LANL, nanocrystals can be incorporated into titania or silica glasses that further can be processed into “active” waveguide structures. Such active waveguides can be used in fiber circuitry as either lasing or amplification elements.

Application(s)

Telecommunications
Fiber optics
Laser-on-chip technologies
Optical data storage
Optical spectroscopy
Remote sensing
Medical diagnostics

Advantages

Emission wavelength and gain characteristics can be controlled by particle size
Improved temperature stability compared to bulk semiconductor and quantum well amplifiers and lasers
Facile incorporation into different cavity designs (including microcavities and photonic crystals)
Inexpensive, wet-chemistry-based routes for fabrication of optical gain media

IP Status: Contact Licensing Executive for Details

Reference Number: 503

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 94,623

Patents & Applications:
United States National Patent Number 6819692 Issued on 11/16/2004

Posted: 02-18-2005

Contact
Laura Barber
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 667-9266
ljbb@lanl.gov

Licensing, TT

CONTACTS

Quantum Dot Optical Amplifiers and Lasers