Introduction

Optical property of a material is defined as its interaction

with electro-magnetic radiation in the visible.
Electromagnetic spectrum of radiation spans the wide
range from γ-rays with wavelength as 10-12m,through x-
rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and finally radiowaves
with wavelengths as a long as 105m.
Visible light is one form of electromagnetic radiation
with wavelengths ranging from 0.39 to 0.77μm.
Light can be considered as having waves and consisting of
particles called photons.
 Material –Light interaction
•Interaction of photons with the electronic or crystal structure
of a material leads to a number of phenomena.
•The photons may give their energy to the material
(absorption);
•photons give their energy, but photons of identical energy are
immediately emitted by the material (reflection);
• photons may interact with the material structure
(transmission); or during transmission photons are changes in
velocity (refraction).
At any instance of light interaction with a material, the total
intensity of the incident light striking a surface is equal to sum
of the absorbed, reflected, and transmitted intensities i.e.
IO= IA + I R + IT
 Classification of Optical materials
Materials are classified on the basis of their interaction with
visible light into three categories.
Materials that are capable of transmitting light with
relatively little absorption and reflection are called
transparent materialsi.e.we can see through them.
Translucent materials are those through which light is
transmitted diffusely i.e. objects are not clearly
distinguishable when viewed through.
Those materials that are impervious to the transmission of
visible light are termed as opaque materials. These
materials absorb all the energy from the light photons
Depending on the material, its crystal-/micro-
structure, and also on the characteristics of
incident light, there are many peculiar
phenomena occurs, which are known as optical
phenomena.These include:
1-luminescence
2-optical fibers
3-photo-conductivity
4-thermal emission
5-lasers
All these find quite many applications in
technology for everyday life
 1-Luminescence
It is the process where a material absorbs energy and then
immediately emits visible or near-visible radiation.
It consists of electron excitation and then dropping down
to lower energy states.
If the emission of radiation by excited electrons occurs
with in 10-8 sec.s after excitation, the luminescence is
called fluorescence, and if it takes longer than 10-8sec.s, it
is known as phosphorescence.
Ordinarily pure materials donot display this phenomenon.
Special materials called phosphors have the capability of
absorbing high-energy radiation and spontaneously
emitting lower-energy radiation.
Ex.: some sulfides, oxides, tungstates, and few organic
materials.
• When the light energy emitted results from a
chemical reaction, such as in the slow
oxidation of phosphorus at ordinary
temperatures, the emission is called
chemiluminescence.
• When the luminescent chemical reaction
occurs in a living system, such as in the glow of
the firefly, the emission is called
bioluminescence.
According to the source of the exciting energy,
these luminescences are termed as
• cathodoluminescence if the energy comes from
electron bombardment,
• radioluminescence or roentgenoluminescence if
the energy comes from x-rays or from gamma-
rays;
• photoluminescence if the energy comes from
ultraviolet, visible or infrared radiation; and
• electroluminescence if the energy comes from
the application of an electric field.
2-Photoconductivity:
The increase in electrical conductivity caused by the excitation
of additional free charge carries by light photons of
sufficiently energy in semiconductors and insulators is called
photoconductivity.
Photoconductor can be used for a variety of light and particle
detection applications, as well as a light controlled switch.
Other major applications in which photoconductivity plays a
central role are television-cameras (vidicons), normal silver
halide emulsion photography,
3- Optical Fibres in Communication:
An optical-fibre is a very thin and flexible medium of cylindrical
shape. The three principal sections of a fibre are:
(i)the core, (ii) the cladding, and (iii) the jacket.
The innermost section, made of glass or plastic, is referred to as
Core. A glass or plastic coating surrounding the core is known as the
cladding. The optical properties of the cladding are different from
those of the jacket. It is made of plastic or polymer and other
materials, and protects the structure from moisture, abrasion,
mechanical shocks, and other environmental hazards.
The actual working structure of the optical fibre is the core. The
light entering the core at a suitable angle propagates through it,
suffering a number of total internal reflections at the core-cladding
interface. Optical fibres serve as cables for communications to carry
optical signals from one end to the other over a wide band
Signal transmission through a metallic wire
conductor is electronic, whereas using optically
transparent fibres, signal transmission is
photonic, i.e. it uses photons of electromagnetic
or light radiation. Use of optical fibres in
communications has improved speed of
transmission, information density, and
transmission density, with a reduction in error
rate; moreover, there is no electromagnetic
interference with fibre optics.
 4-Thermal emission
• When a material is heated, electrons are excited to higher
energy levels, particularly in the outer energy levels where
the electrons are less strongly bound to the nucleus.
• These excited electrons, upon dropping back to the ground
state, release photons in process what is called thermal
emission.
• During thermal emission a continuous spectrum of
radiation is emitted with a minimum wavelength and the
intensity distribution is dependent on the temperature.
• Higher the temperature, wider will be the range of
wavelengths emitted. By measuring the intensity of an
arrow band of the emitted wavelengths with a pyrometer,
material’s temperature can be estimated.
 Lasers
Laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated
emission of radiation.
Ex.:Ruby, single crystal of Al2O3 doped with little amount
of Cr2O3 ,yttrium aluminium garnet(Y3Al5O12–
YAG)doped with neodymium,Nd;CO2gas;He-Negas;some
semi-conductors like GaAs and InGaAsP.
Laser action can occur in atoms, molecules in gases,
liquids,solids, and flames, and ions.
The emitted wavelength by laser source covers the
ultraviolet to the radio frequency regions, the output
power varying form a few mW to MW.
• The phenomena involved in the laser action
encompass interactions between atoms and
molecules and electromagnetic fields.
• The salient features of laser radiation are:
• (i) directionality,
• (ii) high intensity,
• (iii) monochromaticity and
• (iv) coherence.
Optical resonator cavity is also used to achieve pumping action.
• Laser applications are diverse.
• Since lasers beams may be focused to produce localized
heating, they are used in some surgical procedures and for
cutting, welding, and machining metals.
• Complex operations in surgery are performed with laser
beams; such operations are less painful, bloodless, and quick.
• Lasers are also used in communication, computer circuitary,
biology, meterology, military warfare, holography, etc.
• Laser beams being highly directional, large distances can be
measured accurately with their help, e.g. the distance of the
moon from the earth has been measured with an error of
only 15 cm in 384000 km.
• Lasers have opened up new researches on the interaction of
matter with light and in non-linear optics.