Description of current projects

Opto(electronic) properties of organic semiconductors  (Dr. Keshab Paudel, Brian Johnson, Alex Robertson, Afina Neunzert, Mattson Thieme)

Collaborations: Prof. J. E. Anthony (Dept. of Chemistry, University of Kentucky), Prof. R. J.  Twieg (Dept. of Chemistry, Kent State University), Prof. M. Haley (Dept. of Chemistry, University of Oregon), Prof. G. Schneider (Dept. of Physics, Oregon State University)

This project involves exploring optoelectronic properties of various organic materials and donor-acceptor composites on time scales from picoseconds to many seconds after photoexcitation, and on spatial scales from bulk films to a single-molecule level. The goal of the project is to understand physical mechanisms of charge photogeneration, transport, trapping and recombination in these high-performance organic electronic materials, to explore structure-property relationships, and to understand relationships between charge and energy transfer on a molecular level and device performance.   [Supported by NSF and ONAMI/ONR.] Check out two mini-tutorials developed by Whitney Shepherd which highlight her recent work on effects of aggregate formation and FRET and exciplex formation on exciton and charge carrier dynamics in organic semiconductors!

Single charge carrier dynamics explored using optical tweezer trapping  (Rebecca Grollman, Kyle Peters)

In this project, we develop an optical tweezer trapping force measurement-based method to establish charge carrier dynamics of organic semiconductors at nanoscales.   [Supported by ONAMI/ONR.]

Response of bumble bees to high-spectral purity illumination   (Oksana Ostroverkhova)

Collaborations: Prof. S. Rao, Prof. W. P. Stephen (Entomology, Oregon State University)

In this project, we probe wavelength sensitivities of bees. Field studies are combined with optical characterization of bee traps and theoretical modeling.   [Supported by ARF.]

3D photorefractive updateable holographic displays   (Oksana Ostroverkhova)

Collaborations: Profs.  N. Peyghambarian, R. A. Norwood (College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona)

In this project, we develop, test and model performance of novel photorefractive polymers and adapt them for applications in 3D displays.   [Supported by AFOSR.] See a tutorial on physics and applications of photorefractive organic materials.