L. Michael Hayden

Professor

Ph.D., University of California, Davis 1987

Research Group

Research Interests

Nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers are promising new materials for use in devices such as optical modulators, wave-guide harmonic generators, and integrated optical switches. Devices such as these will be required in future photonic based communication, computing, and sensor systems. In addition, electro-optic (EO) polymers are finding use as sources for the generation of terahertz (THz) radiation and as sensors for the detection of THz radiation. Applications of THz radiation include medical imaging and FIR spectroscopy of dielectric materials.

We use NLO techniques such as second harmonic generation (SHG) and electro-optic (EO) modulation to probe the local environment and dynamics in macromolecular materials intended for use in photonic devices. Relaxation of the second order optical susceptibility is studied as a function of temperature and pressure. Activation energies and volumes associated with the relaxations are determined and used to identify the mechanism for the re-orientation of the NLO moiety. These structure-property results are used by chemists to synthesize new more stable materials.

We have recently begun to apply molecular modeling techniques to study polymer relaxations, NLO properties of polymers, and to simulate the FIR spectra of NLO polymers. We have developed fully atomistic models to simulate electric field poling of guest-host and dendrimer NLO composites. We are also involved in the development of atomistic models that will allow us to predict the FIR spectrum of EO polymers.

The other major thrust of the laboratory is involved with photorefractive, photochromic, and photopolymerizable polymers. These new materials are interesting because of their potential application in optical signal processing, holographic storage, all optical computing, and wavefront correction. We currently measure the photoconductivity, electro-optic coefficient, diffraction efficiency, and photorefractive two beam coupling gain in a variety of these new materials. In addition we are exploring guided wave applications in these materials.

Recent Publications

"Fully Atomistic Modeling of an Electric Field Poled Guest-Host Nonlinear Optical Polymer", W.-K. Kim and L. Michael Hayden, J. Chem. Phys. 111, 5212 (1999).

"Dual Use Chromophores for Photorefractive and Irreversible Photochromic Applications", K. D. Harris, R. Ayachitula, S. J. Strutz, L. Michael Hayden, and R. J. Twieg, Appl. Opt. 40, 2895 (2001).

"Generation and Detection of Terahertz Radiation in Multi-layered Electro-optic Polymer Films", A. M. Sinyukov and L. Michael Hayden, Opt. Lett. 27, 55 (2002).

“New Materials for Optical Rectification and Electro-optic Sampling of Ultra-short Pulses in the THz Regime”. L. Michael Hayden, A. M. Sinyukov, M. R. Leahy, P. Lindahl, J. French, W. Herman, M. He, R. Twieg, J. Polymer Sci. B. Polymer Phys. 41, 2492-2500 (2003).

“Efficient electro-optic polymers for THz applications”, A. M. Sinyukov and L. Michael Hayden, J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 8515-8522 (2004).

“Resonance enhanced THz generation in electro-optic polymers near the absorption maximum,” A. Sinyukov, M. R. Leahy, L. Michael Hayden, J. Luo, A. K-Y. Jen, and L. R. Dalton, Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 5827-5829 (2004).

“Atomistic molecular modeling of electric field poling of nonlinear optical polymers,” M. R. Leahy-Hoppa, J. French, P. D. Cunningham, and L. Michael Hayden, in Nonlinear optical properties of matter: From molecules to condensed phases, Ed. M. G. Papadopoulos, J. Leszczynski and A. J. Sadlej, Kluwer Press (March 2005).