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Ursula J. Gibson
Alma mater Dartmouth College
Cornell University
Scientific career
Institutions Clemson University
Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Dartmouth College
University of Arizona
Thesis Optical and Structural Properties of Thin Film Composites (1982)

Ursula J. Gibson is an American scientist who studies materials. She is known for her work on new types of optical fibers. These are tiny strands of glass or plastic that carry light.

Early Life and School

Ursula Gibson was born in Sheffield, England. She moved to the United States in the 1960s. She lived in Philadelphia and then in Ithaca, New York.

She studied physics at Dartmouth College. Later, she earned her master's and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University. This was in 1978 and 1982. Her Ph.D. research looked at thin film composites. During her studies, she also worked at Bell Labs for two summers.

Her Work and Discoveries

After getting her Ph.D., Dr. Gibson became a professor. She worked at the Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona. In 1990, she went back to Dartmouth College. There, she taught about materials science and nanotechnology. She also worked with chemists and biologists.

Ursula Gibson, Department of Physics 01
Ursula Gibson, a scientist at NTNU.

In 2010, Dr. Gibson joined the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). She was elected to the International Commission on Optics Bureau in 2011. She also served as the president of Optica in 2019. She retired from NTNU and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in 2021. Today, she is a professor at Clemson University and emerita at Dartmouth College.

Research on Optical Materials

Dr. Gibson's research has explored many optical materials. These include polymers, protein crystals, and semiconductors. She focuses on very small structures. Examples are thin films and waveguides. She has four patents and has written seven book chapters.

Her current work focuses on optical fibers. These fibers have cores made from semiconductors. Semiconductors are materials that can conduct electricity. These special fibers have unique properties. They can be used to make solar cells.

Making Special Fibers

Dr. Gibson develops optical fibers with cores. These cores are made from Group IV and III-V semiconductors. These materials have special properties. They can change light and electricity. They can also be made in large amounts.

The fibers are very thin and long. This allows them to be heated with lasers. The laser heat helps the semiconductor material to recrystallize. This means the material forms a single crystal. A single crystal is best for carrying light. It also makes the fiber stronger.

Dr. Gibson used laser treatment to create structures. She made areas of germanium-rich material. These were inside crystalline silicon-germanium core fibers. Fast cooling helps the mixture form a single crystal. This is great for sending light. It also makes the fibers very strong.

With physicist Zahra Ghadyani, Dr. Gibson started a company called NorFib. This company aims to use these special fibers. They want to create a system for making electricity from solar energy.

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Gibson has received many awards for her work:

In 2017, she was chosen for Academia Net. This is a network of top female scientists.

Personal Life

Dr. Gibson is married to Ulf Lennart Österberg. He was also a professor at the Thayer School of Engineering. They have three children.

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