Pulsed laser deposition of novel active oxide crystals.

This PhD project aims to address the challenges of manufacturing high-quality single-crystal waveguides via pulsed laser deposition, targeting applications that can exploit active thin-films, such as high-power amplifiers for ultra-short laser pulses. Specifically, in this PhD project, novel gain materials will be investigated to realise unique properties from these active films, which could provide laser performance beyond what is currently available in the industrial-laser market place. One critical issue of the PLD technique is the optical losses within the waveguides, typically hampering efficient operation and restricting their potential. A new breakthrough in improving the quality of the thin-films will have a major impact in their acceptance as a key component in the design toolbox for next generation hybrid laser systems.

At the end of the project we will have identified critical processes that will dramatically improve the optical properties of PLD-grown crystal films and demonstrate their utility for optical amplifiers.