Optical Materials

This book presents, in a unified form, the underlying physical and structural processes that determine the optical behavior of materials. It does this by combining elements from physics, optics, and materials science in a seamless manner, and introducing quantum mechanics when needed. The book groups the characteristics of optical materials into classes with similar behavior. In treating each type of material, the text pays particular attention to atomic composition and chemical makeup, electronic states and band structure, and physical microstructure so that the reader will gain insight into the kinds of materials engineering and processing conditions that are required to produce a material exhibiting a desired optical property. The physical principles are presented on many levels, including a physical explanation, followed by formal mathematical support and examples and methods of measurement. The reader may overlook the equations with no loss of comprehension, or may use the text to find appropriate equations for calculations of optical properties. * Presents the optical properties of metals, insulators, semiconductors, laser materials, and non-linear materials * Physical processes are discussed and quantified using precise mathematical treatment, followed by examples and a discussion of measurement methods * Authors combine many years of expertise in condensed matter physics, classical and quantum optics, and materials science * The text is written on many levels and will benefit the novice as well as the expert * Explains the concept of color in materials * Explains the non-linear optical behavior of materials in a unified form * Appendices present rigorous derivations Front Cover......Page 1 Optical Materials......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 14 1.1 Introduction......Page 18 1.2 Waves......Page 19 1.3 The electromagnetic spectrum......Page 22 1.4 Mathematical waves......Page 29 1.5 Electromagnetic waves......Page 33 1.6 Propagation characteristics......Page 39 1.7 Dispersion......Page 42 1.8 Kramers–Kronig relations......Page 45 1.9 Wave–particle duality......Page 48 1.10 Phonons......Page 49 1.11 Measurements......Page 51 Appendix 1A. Solution of the wave equation by transform methods......Page 62 Appendix 1B. General solution for propagation vectors......Page 65 Appendix 1C. Kramers—Kronig relations......Page 67 2.1 Introduction......Page 74 2.2 Atomistic view: Drude model......Page 78 2.3 Plasma frequency......Page 85 2.4 Band structure in metals......Page 86 2.5 Coloration in metals......Page 92 2.6 Coloration by means of small metal particles......Page 93 2.7 Optical properties of superconductors......Page 95 2.8 Measurement techniques......Page 96 Appendix 2A. Solution of the Mie theory equations......Page 98 3.1 Introduction......Page 102 3.2 Harmonic oscillator theory......Page 106 3.3 Selection rules for transitions between atomic levels......Page 112 3.4 Propagation of light through insulators......Page 115 3.5 Measurement techniques......Page 151 Appendix 3A. Quantum mechanical treatment of the simple harmonic oscillator......Page 161 Appendix 3B. Calculation of the refractive index of glass......Page 168 Appendix 3C. Ligand field theory concepts......Page 172 4.1 Thin films......Page 176 4.2 Glasses, Crystals, and birefringence......Page 186 4.3 Photochromic and electrochromic behavior......Page 189 4.4 Oxides, chalcogenides, and halides......Page 191 4.5 Optical plastics......Page 193 4.6 Sources of color......Page 195 Appendix 4A. Alternate calculation of multiple film stacks......Page 204 5.1 Introduction......Page 208 5.2 Free-electron gas (Sommerfeld theory)......Page 210 5.3 Nearly free-electron model......Page 211 5.4 Band structure......Page 219 5.5 Impurity states and lattice imperfections......Page 227 5.6 Carrier densities......Page 232 5.7 Absorption and photoluminescence......Page 237 5.8 Measurements......Page 254 5.9 Materials and properties......Page 264 5.10 Quantum well structures, quantum wires, and quantum dots......Page 276 Appendix 5A. Derivation of the carrier concentration equation......Page 281 Appendix 5B. Derivation of absorption from direct interband transitions......Page 282 Appendix 5C. Band structure of semiconductors......Page 285 6.1 Introduction......Page 290 6.3 Line shapes......Page 291 6.4 Stimulated emission and absorption......Page 294 6.5 Absorption and amplification (gain)......Page 296 6.6 Operational characteristics of lasers......Page 297 6.7 Laser cavity characteristics......Page 302 6.8 Examples of laser systems......Page 314 6.9 Semiconductor lasers......Page 335 7.1 Introduction......Page 342 7.2 Mathematical treatment......Page 345 7.3 Second-order susceptibility......Page 356 7.4 Third-order susceptibility......Page 364 7.5 Test methods......Page 387 Index......Page 396 Optical Materials presents, in a unified form, the underlying physical and structural processes that determine the optical behavior of materials. It does this by combining elements from physics, optics, and materials science in a seamless manner, and introducing quantum mechanics when needed. The book groups the characteristics of optical materials into classes with similar behavior. In treating each type of material, the text pays particular attention to atomic composition and chemical makeup, electronic states and band structure, and physical microstructure so that the reader will gain insight into the kinds of materials engineering and processing conditions that are required to produce a material exhibiting a desired optical property. The physical principles are presented on many levels, including a physical explanation, followed by formal mathematical support and examples and methods of measurement. The reader may overlook the equations with no loss of comprehension, or may use the text to find appropriate equations for calculations of optical properties. Presents the optical properties of metals, insulators, semiconductors, laser materials, and non-linear materials Physical processes are discussed and quantified using precise mathematical treatment, followed by examples and a discussion of measurement methods Authors combine many years of expertise in condensed matter physics, classical and quantum optics, and materials science The text is written on many levels and will benefit the novice as well as the expert Explains the concept of color in materials Explains the non-linear optical behavior of materials in a unified form Appendices present rigorous derivations The optical properties of materials arise from the characteristics of their interactions with electromagnetic waves.