ISSUES TO ADDRESS...

What happens when light shines on a material?

Why do materials have characteristic colors?
Chapter 20: Optical Properties
Chapter 20 - 1
Optical applications:
-- luminescence
-- photoconductivity
-- solar cell
-- optical communications fibers
Why are some materials transparent and others not?
Optical Properties
Light has both particulate and wavelike properties
Photons - with mass

= =
hc
h E
Chapter 20 - 2
m/s) 10 x (3.00 light of speed c
) s J 10 62 . 6 ( constant s Planck'
frequency
wavelength
energy
8
34
=
=
=
=
=

x h
E
Refractive Index, n
medium) in light of (velocity
vacuum) in light of (velocity
v
c

Transmitted light distorts electron clouds.

Light is slower in a material vs vacuum.
n = refractive index
+
no
transmitted
light
transmitted
light
+
electron
cloud
distorts
Chapter 20 - 3
Note: n = f ()
Typical glasses ca. 1.5 -1.7
Plastics 1.3 -1.6
PbO (Litharge) 2.67
Diamond 2.41
medium) in light of (velocity v
n = refractive index
Selected values from Table 20.1
Callisters Materials Science and
Engineering, Adapted Version.
--Adding large, heavy ions (e.g., lead
can decrease the speed of light.
--Light can be
"bent"
Total Internal Reflectance

sin
sin
n
n
n(low)
n (high)
n > n
'
1

Chapter 20 - 4
1

angle critical
angle refracted
angle incident
=
=

=
c
i
i
reflected internally is light for
90 when occurs
c i
i c
>
=

Example: Diamond in air

1
sin
1
sin
90 sin
1
41 . 2
sin
sin

c c
n
n
Chapter 20 - 5
Fiber optic cables are clad in low n material for this
reason.

5 . 24
41 . 2
1
sin = =
c c
Incident light is either reflected, absorbed, or
transmitted:
S R A T o
I I I I I + + + =
Light Interaction with Solids
Incident: I
0
Absorbed: I
A
Transmitted: I
T
Scattered: I
Reflected: I
R
Chapter 20 - 6
Optical classification of materials:
From Fig. 20.10, Callisters MSE
Adapted Version.
(Fig. 20.10 is by J. Telford, with
specimen preparation by P.A.
Lessing.)
single
crystal
polycrystalline
dense
polycrystalline
porous
Transparent
Translucent
Opaque
0
Scattered: I
S
Absorption of photons by electron transition:
Optical Properties of Metals:
Absorption
Energy of electron
unfilled states
E = h required!
Chapter 20 - 7
Metals have a fine succession of energy states.
Near-surface electrons absorb visible light.
From Fig. 20.4(a)
Callisters Materials Science and
Engineering, Adapted Version.
Plancks constant
(6.63 x 10
-34
J/s)
freq.
of
incident
light
filled states
I
o
Light Absorption
I
(
t
I
I

= e
0
thickness sample
cm ] [ t coefficien absorption linear
1
=
= =

t
Chapter 20 - 8
t
I
I
ln
0
=
(

Optical Properties of Metals:

Reflection
Electron transition emits a photon.
re-emitted
photon from
Energy of electron
unfilled states
E
I
R
conducting electron
Chapter 20 - 9
Reflectivity = I
R
/I
o
is between 0.90 and 0.95.
Reflected light is same frequency as incident.
Metals appear reflective (shiny)!
From Fig. 20.4(b)
Callisters Materials Science and
Engineering, Adapted Version.
photon from
material surface
filled states
E
Reflectivity, R
Reflection
Metals reflect almost all light
Copper & gold absorb in blue & green => gold
color
ty reflectivi
1
1
2
=
|

\
|
+

=
n
n
R
Chapter 20 - 10
1
\
+ n
17 . 0
1 41 . 2
1 41 . 2
2
=
|

\
|
+

= R
reflected is light of % 17
Example: Diamond
Scattering
In semicrystalline or polycrystalline materials
Semicrystalline
density of crystals higher than amorphous
materials speed of light is lower - causes light to
scatter - can cause significant loss of light
Chapter 20 - 11
scatter - can cause significant loss of light
Common in polymers
Ex: LDPE milk cartons cloudy
Polystyrene clear essentially no crystals
Absorption by electron transition occurs if h > Egap
Selected Absorption: Semiconductors
incident photon
energy h
Energy of electron
unfilled states
E
gap
blue light: h = 3.1 eV
red light: h = 1.7 eV
Chapter 20 - 12
If Egap < 1.8 eV, full absorption; color is black (Si, GaAs)
If Egap > 3.1 eV, no absorption; colorless (diamond)
If Egap in between, partial absorption; material has a color.
From Fig. 20.5(a), Callisters MSE Adapted Version.
energy h
filled states
E
gap
I
o

c
=
hc
E
=
(6.62 x 10
34
J s)(3 x 10
8
m/s)
(0.67eV)(1.60 x 10
19
J/eV)
1.85 m
Wavelength vs. Band Gap
E
g
= 0.67 eV
Example: What is the minimum wavelength absorbed
by Ge?
Chapter 20 - 13

c
E
g
(0.67eV)(1.60 x 10
19
J/eV)
note : for Si E
g
=1.1eV
c
1.13 m
If donor (or acceptor) states also available this provides other
absorption frequencies
Color determined by sum of frequencies of
-- transmitted light,
-- re-emitted light from electron transitions.
Ex: Cadmium Sulfide (CdS)
-- Egap = 2.4 eV,
-- absorbs higher energy visible light (blue, violet),
-- Red/yellow/orange is transmitted and gives it color.
Color of Nonmetals
Chapter 20 - 14
-- Red/yellow/orange is transmitted and gives it color.
Ex: Ruby = Sapphire (Al2O3) + (0.5 to 2) at% Cr2O3
-- Sapphire is colorless
(i.e., Egap > 3.1eV)
-- adding Cr2O3 :
alters the band gap
blue light is absorbed
yellow/green is absorbed
red is transmitted
Result: Ruby is deep
red in color.
From Fig. 20.9, Callisters MSE Adapted Version.
(Fig. 20.9 adapted from "The Optical Properties of
Materials" by A. Javan, Scientific American, 1967.)
40
60
70
80
50
0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9
T
r
a
n
s
m
i
t
t
a
n
c
e

(
%
)
ruby
sapphire
wavelength,
(= c/)(m)
Luminescence
Luminescence emission of light by a material
material absorbs light at one frequency & emits at
another (lower) frequency.
Conduction band
Chapter 20 - 15
activator
level
Valence band
trapped
states
E
g
E
emission
How stable is the trapped state?
If very stable (long-lived = >10
-8
s) =
phosphorescence
If less stable (<10
-8
s) = fluorescence
Example: glow in the dark toys.
Charge them up by exposing them to
the light. Reemit over time. --
phosphorescence
Photoluminescence
Hg
uv
electrode electrode
Chapter 20 - 16
Arc between electrodes excites mercury in lamp to higher
energy level.
electron falls back emitting UV light (i.e., suntan lamp).
Line inner surface with material that absorbs UV, emits visible
Ca
10
F
2
P
6
O
24
with 20% of F
-
replaced by Cl
-
Adjust color by doping with metal cations
Sb
3+
blue
Mn
2+
orange-red
Cathodoluminescence
Used in T.V. set
Bombard phosphor with electrons
Excite phosphor to high state
Relaxed by emitting photon (visible)
ZnS (Ag
+
& Cl
-
) blue
(Zn, Cd) S + (Cu
+
+Al
3+
) green
Chapter 20 - 17
(Zn, Cd) S + (Cu
+
+Al
3+
) green
Y
2
O
2
S + 3% Eu red
Note: light emitted is random in phase & direction
i.e., noncoherent
LASER Light
Is non-coherent light a problem? diverges
cant keep tightly columnated
How could we get all the light in phase? (coherent)
LASERS
Light
Chapter 20 - 18
Light
Amplification by
Stimulated
Emission of
Radiation
Involves a process called population inversion of
energy states
Population Inversion
What if we could increase most species to the excited
state?
Chapter 20 - 19
Fig. 20.14
Callisters Materials
Science and Engineering,
Adapted Version.
LASER Light Production
pump the lasing material to the excited state
e.g., by flash lamp (non-coherent lamp).
Chapter 20 - 20
If we let this just decay we get no coherence.
Fig. 20.13
Callisters Materials
Science and Engineering,
Adapted Version.
LASER Cavity
Tuned cavity:
Stimulated Emission
One photon induces the
emission of another
photon, in phase with the
first.
Chapter 20 - 21
first.
cascades producing very
intense burst of coherent
radiation.
i.e., Pulsed laser
Fig. 20.15
Callisters Materials
Science and Engineering,
Adapted Version..
Continuous Wave LASER
Can also use materials such as CO
2
or yttrium-
aluminum-garret (YAG) for LASERS
Set up standing wave in laser cavity
tune frequency by adjusting mirror spacing.
Uses of CW lasers
1. Welding
Chapter 20 - 22
1. Welding
2. Drilling
3. Cutting laser carved wood, eye surgery
4. Surface treatment
5. Scribing ceramics, etc.
6. Photolithography Excimer laser
Apply strong forward
bias to junction.
Creates excited state
by pumping electrons
across the gap-
creating electron-hole
pairs.
Semiconductor LASER
Chapter 20 - 23
electron + hole neutral + h
excited state
ground state
photon of
light
From Fig. 20.17
Callisters Materials
Science and Engineering,
Adapted Version.
Uses of Semiconductor LASERs
#1 use = compact disk player
Color? - red
Banks of these semiconductor lasers are used as
flash lamps to pump other lasers
Communications
Fibers often turned to a specific frequency
Chapter 20 - 24
Fibers often turned to a specific frequency
(typically in the blue)
only recently was this a attainable
Applications of Materials Science
New materials must be developed to make new &
improved optical devices.
Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)
White light semiconductor sources
Fig. 20.12
Chapter 20 - 25
New semiconductors
Materials scientists
(& many others) use lasers as tools.
Solar cells
Fig. 20.12
Callisters MSE Adapted Version.
(Reproduced by
arrangement with Silicon Chip
magazine.)
Solar Cells
p-n junction: Operation:
-- incident photon produces hole-elec. pair.
-- typically 0.5 V potential.
-- current increases w/light intensity.
n-type Si
P
Si
Si
Si Si
conductance
electron
P-doped Si
n-type Si
p-n junction
light
+
-
- - -
creation of
hole-electron
pair
Chapter 20 - 26
Solar powered weather station:
polycrystalline Si
Los Alamos High School weather
station (photo courtesy
P.M. Anderson)
n-type Si
P-type Si
p-n junction
B-doped Si
Si
Si
Si Si B
hole
p-type Si
p-n junction
+
-
+ + +
Optical Fibers
prepare preform as indicated in Chapter 13
preform drawn to 125 m or less capillary fibers
plastic cladding applied 60 m
Chapter 20 - 27
Fig. 20.20, Callisters MSE
Adapted Version.
Fig. 20.18, Callisters MSE
Adapted Version.
Optical Fiber Profiles
Step-index Optical Fiber
Chapter 20 - 28
Graded-index Optical Fiber
Fig. 21.21, Callister 7e.
Fig. 20.22
Callisters Materials
Science and Engineering,
Adapted Version.
When light (radiation) shines on a material, it may be:
-- reflected, absorbed and/or transmitted.
Optical classification:
-- transparent, translucent, opaque
Metals:
-- fine succession of energy states causes absorption
and reflection.
SUMMARY
Chapter 20 - 29
Non-Metals:
-- may have full (Egap < 1.8eV) , no (Egap > 3.1eV), or
partial absorption (1.8eV < Egap = 3.1eV).
-- color is determined by light wavelengths that are
transmitted or re-emitted from electron transitions.
-- color may be changed by adding impurities which
change the band gap magnitude (e.g., Ruby)
Refraction:
-- speed of transmitted light varies among materials.
Core Problems:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Reading:
Chapter 20 - 30
Self-help Problems: