THE ELECTRO-OPTICS TECHNOLOGY CENTER at TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Research in EOTC


The Center's research program includes: active film structures, particularly for electrochromic control of window transparency and for high density rechargable batteries, digital image processing, photonics with emphasis on optical interconnect and network devices.

Active Film Structures

Image Processing Photonics


Reaearch Areas

In the active films area, the research on electrochromic materials has led to the invention of "smart windows." These are multilayer solid-state thin films with ionic mobility between the layers. Changing the ion and, hence, electron concentration in two of the layers produces a change in the wavelength of the plasma reflection edge. These electrically controlled windows can be used for displays and in buildings, automobiles, and other areas where control of light and heat is important.

The digital image processing involves research in maximum entropy restoration, phase-only filtering, medical imaging, and computer-aided tomography. Image processing techniques have been used to restore the quality of Hubble telescope images and are under study for use in adaptive optics systems for compensation of optical distortion due to atmospheric turbulence.

The photonics research emphasizes nonlinear optics for high speed optical data processing and communication.

Other areas of collaboration include: a fiber optics system to test ground water contamination at an underground source, acousto-optic devices synthesized from mercurous halide crystals, and the influence of electromagnetic fields on cells and proteins.

There are also related research efforts outside the Center in: thermo-optical properties of materials, magnetic semiconductors, submillimeter spectroscopy, biological effects of electromagnetic fields, and environmental monitoring.


EOTC in www/ 2002 / eotc@tufts.edu