Chromophore Dynamics in Sol-Gel Glasses and Xerogel Clad Fiber Optic Sensors

Abstract

Time-resolved depolarization measurements are used to investigate rotational diffusion and optical energy transfer dynamics of chromophores incorporated into silica and aluminosilica solutions, gels, and glasses. The use of an organically doped sol-gel clad waveguide as a novel intrinsic fiber optic sensor device is also demonstrated, and advantages of time-resolved detection of the fiber optic sensor are illustrated.