Theoretical analysis of output statistics of Er3+:Ti:LiNbO3 M-mode straight waveguide amplifiers

In this paper we present a theoretical analysis of some statistical parameters which characterize the Er³⁺-doped Ti:LiNbO₃ M-mode straight waveguides. The derivation and the evaluation of the spectral optical gain, the spectral noise figure, the Fano factor, the statistical fluctuation and the spontaneous emission factor are performed under the small gain approximation. The simulations show the evolution of these parameters under various pump regimes and waveguide lengths. The obtained results can be used for the design of complex rare earth doped integrated circuits.     

Spectral line broadening mechanism of Er3+ transitions in Er:Ti:LiNbO3 channel waveguides

In order to elucidate the interaction effects among the various defects present in a LiNbO₃-based integrated optical device, we investigated the change of the optical properties of Er³⁺ ions under the application of an external electric field and hydrostatic pressure. We obtained for stoichiometric bulk material a complete picture of the field-induced spectral shifts as a function of transition and site. As a first important application of these results we were able to clarify the mechanism of spectral broadening of the Er³⁺ transitions in Ti:Er:LiNbO₃ channel waveguides. By selecting different waveguide modes for excitation and using highly selective double-resonance excitation with two lasers, we found that the [Ti⁴⁺] concentration gradient caused by the indiffusion results in an internal E-field gradient. This translates, due to the averaging within the guided mode, into mode-dependent spectral line broadening. Received: 24 May 2001 / Published online: 23 October 2001     

Crystal growth and optical properties of Cr3+, Er3+, RE3+: Gd3Ga5O12 (RE=Tm,Ho, Eu) for mid-IR laser applications

In this paper we report on the optical properties of triply Cr³⁺, Er³⁺, and RE³⁺ (RE=Tm, Ho, Eu) doped Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ crystals that were grown by the Czochralski method. Optical absorption, near-infrared (NIR), and mid-infrared (mid-IR) fluorescence spectra were characterized for the fabricated crystals and corresponding luminescence decay measurements under 654 nm excitation were also carried out. Based on the analysis of energy transfer process between Er and RE (RE=Tm, Ho, Eu) ions, the energy transfer efficiency (ETE) values were evaluated, correspondingly. From the spectral data of all the studied crystals, it is observed that the co-doped Cr³⁺ ion highly increases the absorption pump power and the three kinds of co-doped RE³⁺ ions depopulate the Er:⁴I_13/2 energy level effectively. The spectral analysis shows that titled rare earth doped crystals are promising materials for ～3.0 μm mid-IR laser applications and among them Cr,Er,Eu:GGG is relatively more suitable due to its excellent optical properties compared with others.     

Design of 1480-nm diode-pumped Er3+-doped integrated optical amplifiers

Abstact Erbium-doped Y₂O₃ integrated optical amplifiers are designed for low-threshold operation and 3 dB amplification. The most important design parameter for minimal threshold, the erbium concentration, is found to have an optimum value of 0.35 at% for a given waveguide structure with 1.0 dB cm^-1 background loss. The corresponding threshold power is 7 mW. The pump power to obtain 3 dB gain is found to be 22 mW for an amplifier with an optimum erbium concentration of 0.6 at% and 2.8 cm length. At 30 mW pump power the maximum gain is shown to be 5 dB.Designing is done using a comprehensive numerical model of an erbium-doped integrated optical amplifier. In the model two-dimensional intensity-dependent overlap integrals are used, which allow arbitrary erbium dopant profiles and waveguide crosssections. Concentration-dependent effects such as quenching and upconversion are also included in the model.Input parameters for the model are determined from measurements on an unoptimized Er: Y₂O₃ optical waveguide amplifier. Amplification simulations and gain measurements of the unoptimized waveguides are found to be in close agreement, providing a sound basis for the design calculations.     

基于KMnF_3∶Yb~(3+),Er~(3+)纳米晶的红光聚合物平面光波导放大器

制作了基于KMnF_3∶Yb~(3+),Er~(3+)纳米晶材料的工作波长655 nm的聚合物平面光波导放大器。材料的吸收光谱表明,KMnF_3∶Yb~(3+),Er~(3+)纳米晶在980 nm附近有很强的吸收。在980 nm激光的激发下,由于Er~(3+)和Mn2+能级之间的能量传递,KMnF_3∶Yb~(3+),Er~(3+)纳米晶产生了很强的红色上转换发光。根据KMnF_3∶Yb~(3+),Er~(3+)纳米粒子的发光特性,制备了KMnF_3∶Yb~(3+),Er~(3+)NCs-PMMA复合材料,用其作为芯层设计了掩埋形结构光波导放大器,利用传统的半导体工艺完成器件制备。器件测试结果表明,当655 nm信号光功率为0.1 m W、980 nm泵浦功率为260 m W时,器件获得了2.7 d B的相对增益。     

Core-shell LaF<Subscript>3</Subscript>:Er,Yb nanocrystal doped sol–gel materials as waveguide amplifiers

The oleic acid (OA)-modified LaF₃:Er,Yb and LaF₃:Er,Yb–LaF₃ core-shell nanocrystals are synthesized. The lifetime values could be further improved by incorporating core-shell nanocrystals. A kind of sol–gel derived organic–inorganic hybrid material (SGHM) allows for 50 wt.% or even more of both the two nanocrystals in the matrix, and we give the explanation from scattering analysis. It’s precisely because we use the erbium nanocrystals rather than erbium organic complexes, and avoid the undesirable luminescence quenching by Er–Er clustering with a high Er³⁺ concentration. LaF₃:Er,Yb–LaF₃/SGHM transparent films and optical waveguides are also fabricated. The nanocomposite films show strong 1550 nm luminescence intensity under the excitation of 980 nm after heat treatment below 150 °C and the full-width-at-half-maximum is about 51 nm. The loss and optical gain of the waveguide are measured. A relative gain of about 3.5 dB is measured at 1550 nm in a 1.7 cm long waveguide.     

非线性光纤环:3.掺铒光纤双稳态数字光信号放大器

讨论了各种掺铒光纤双稳全光信号放大器的原理和特性，计算了它们在恒定光偏置和脉冲光偏置下的光增益及其随器件参数的变化，给出了器件的设计原则。     

A study of the quantum efficiency of multichannel relaxation in LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript>:Yb,Er crystals

Luminescence spectra of gradient-activated LiNbO₃:Yb, Er crystals with predefined concentration profiles of the optical centers are studied in different spectral regions. The process of electronic excitation energy transfer in the Yb³⁺–Er³⁺ system inside the LiNbO₃ matrix is calculated and dependences of the quantum efficiency of the up-conversion processes for the green and red luminescences of erbium ions on the time of excitation energy deactivation are obtained.     

Structure and optical damage resistance of Zn:Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals

The new non-volatile holographic storage materials, Zn:Mn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals, were prepared by Czochralski technique. Their microstructure was measured and analyzed by infrared (IR) transmission spectra. The optical damage resistance of Zn:Mn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals was characterized by the transmitted beam pattern distortion method. It increases remarkably when the concentration of ZnO is over a threshold concentration. Its value in Zn(7.0 mol%):Mn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystal is about three orders of magnitude higher that in Mn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystal. The photoinduced birefringence change was measured by the Sénarmont's method. It decreased with ZnO concentration increasing. The dependence of the defects on the optical damage resistance was discussed.     

铒镱共掺特性对光放大器增益和噪声系数的影响

基于速率方程和光传输方程,对双包层铒镱共掺光纤放大器进行了研究,数值模拟分析了Er3 浓度和Yb3 浓度的变化对光纤放大器增益和噪声系数的影响.结果表明,Er3 浓度较低时,有较好的噪声特性;同时,较低的Yb3 浓度有助于提高增益,并且存在一个增益最大的最佳Er3 浓度值.     

Defect structure and optical damage resistance of Hf:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals

A series of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals were grown by the Czochralski technique with various doping concentrations of HfO₂. Their defect structures were analyzed by the UV-visible absorption spectra and infrared absorption spectra. The optical damage resistance of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals was measured by the photo-induced birefringence change and the transmitted light spot distortion method. The results show that the optical damage resistance ability of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals enhances remarkably with the HfO₂ concentration increasing when the HfO₂ concentration is lower than its threshold concentration (4 mol%). However, when the HfO₂ concentration exceeds its threshold concentration, the optical damage resistance ability of the crystals returns to decrease. This unusual behavior is explained by using the photovoltaic field produced in the crystals.     

Raman study on vapor-phase equilibrated Er:LiNbO3 and Er:Ti:LiNbO3 crystals

Raman spectra of Er:LiNbO₃ crystal and Ti-diffusedEr:LiNbO₃ strip waveguide, in which the Li/Nb ratio was altered using a vapor-phase equilibration (VPE) technique, were measured at room temperature in the wave-number range 50–3500 cm^-1. Both 488 and 514.5 nm radiations were used to excite Raman scattering, A₁(TO) and E(TO) modes were recorded at backward scattering geometry. The results indicated that the lattice vibrational spectra of the as-grown Er:LiNbO₃ are almost the same as those of pure LiNbO₃ except for the little shift of the peak position and the change of relative intensity of some peaks. In comparison with the spectra of as-grown Er:LiNbO₃ crystal the vapor-phase equilibrated Er:LiNbO₃ and Er:Ti:LiNbO₃ crystals in the lattice vibrational region exhibit the following features: firstly, Raman peaks become narrow, indicating that the VPE process has brought Er:LiNbO₃ and Er:Ti:LiNbO₃ crystals closer to a stoichiometric composition; secondly, relative intensity of some peaks varies with the VPE time; and finally, slight blue shifting in peak position was observed. Some of these features were correlated with the NbO₆ octahedra and with the site distribution of the doped Er ions. In addition, green fluorescence peaks and/or bands associated with the electron transitions ² H _11/2?⁴ I _15/2 and ⁴ S _3/2?⁴ I _15/2 of the doped Er³⁺ were also observed. For 488 nm excitation they appear in the wavenumber range of 1200–3000 cm^-1 and are well separated from lattice vibrational region; for 514.5 nm excitation, however, these fluorescence peaks shift towards the low wavenumber region and overlap partially with the lattice vibrational spectra. Received: 24 May 2000 / Accepted: 29 May 2000 / Published online: 13 September 2000     

热解法制备KY3F10: Yb, RE(RE=Er, Ho, Tm)纳米晶及其特性研究

有机染料和量子点等荧光标记材料存在发射光谱宽、 光热稳定性差和细胞毒性等缺陷, 限制了其在生物学研究中的应用. 镧系掺杂上转换发光材料不存在"自发荧光"和"光漂白"现象, 灵敏度高, 长期稳定性好, 利于活体检测. 论文首次采用热解法, 以油酸和十八烯为表面活性剂和溶剂, 制备了KY₃F₁₀: Yb, RE(RE=Er, Ho, Tm) 纳米晶. 研究了油酸含量对产物形貌和粒径尺寸的影响, 当油酸与十八烯的比例为3:1时, 为制备类球形单分散纳米晶体的最佳工艺条件, 在980 nm半导体激光器激发下, 样品KY₃F₁₀: Yb, RE(RE=Er, Ho, Tm) 分别发射出较强的黄绿、 绿色和蓝色光, 这些结果显示KY₃F₁₀: Yb, RE(RE=Er, Ho, Tm) 纳米粒子作为生物探针在多重荧光标记方面具有优异的特性.     

Growth and photorefractive properties of near-stoichiometric In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals

The near-stoichiometric LiNbO₃ crystal co-doped with In₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and CuO has been grown from a Li-rich melt (Li/Nb = 1.38, atomic ratio) by the Czochralski method in air atmosphere for the first time. The OH⁻ absorption spectra were characterized to investigate the structure defects of the crystals. The appearance of the 3506 cm⁻¹ absorption peak manifests that the composition of the grown crystal is close to the stoichiometric ratio. The photorefractive properties were also measured by the two-wave coupling experiments. The results show that the near-stoichiometric In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystal has a larger refractive index change, higher recording sensitivity and larger two-wave coupling gain coefficient than those obtained in the congruent In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystal under the same experimental conditions. The material of near-stoichiometric In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystal is a promising candidate for blue photorefractive holographic recording.     

On the Similarity of the Statistical Characteristics of Spontaneous Radiation of a Quantum Amplifier at Different Gain Factors

The transformation laws governing the statistical properties of the quantum noise of an optical amplifier when its gain factor and spectral line profile are varied are considered. The correlation functions of quantum noise both at the amplifier output and after nonlinear transformation normalized to the correlation time of quantum noise at the amplifier output were found to be independent of the amplifier gain provided that it exceeds 10 for the Gaussian spectral line profile and 10³ for the Lorentzian profile. The spectral density of quantum noise transformed in a nonlinear system was shown to possess the same similarity property. It was found that the statistical characteristics possess a similarity property even in the case of variation of the spectral line profile from Gaussian to Lorentzian. It was concluded that such a characteristic of quantum noise of an optical amplifier as the correlation time bears virtually all information on the above-mentioned statistical properties at a reasonably large amplifier gain. The similarity property revealed has an important application. It allows finding the matching condition between the optical signal spectrum and the gain profile of the optical quantum amplifier to achieve the highest sensitivity of signal detection by the amplifier.     

Influence of deposition conditions on the optical properties of erbium-doped yttrium oxide films grown by aerosol-UV assisted MOCVD

Erbium-doped Y₂O₃ films were prepared by aerosol-UV assisted metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) at 410 °C. The effects of humidity of carrier gas and UV-assistance on their structure and optical properties were investigated on the as-deposited and thermal annealed films using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the as-deposited Er:Y₂O₃ films crystallise in the Y₂O₃ cubic structure and present a very low organic contamination when the deposition takes place under high air humidity and, even better, with UV-assistance. After annealing, two different structural phases are observed corresponding to the cubic and the monoclinic structures of Y₂O₃. The Er³⁺ luminescence analysed in the visible and IR regions, shows the classical green transitions. The best optical properties were obtained with as-deposited and annealed Er:Y₂O₃ films grown under high air humidity with UV-assistance. Under such deposition conditions, ⁴I_13/2 lifetimes was found to be 3.07 and 6.1 ms for films annealed at 800 and 1000 °C, respectively, and up-conversion phenomena were underlined. This indicates that the deposition conditions, in particular air humidity, play an important role in the luminescent properties even after annealing.     

基于BiB3O6晶体的飞秒光参量变换特性

对基于新型非线性晶体BiB₃O₆(BIBO)的飞秒光参量变换过程的参量特性进行了研究. 计算了BIBO晶体三个光学主平面内的相位匹配条件和有效非线性系数,确定了克尔透镜锁模钛宝石激光器的基频光与倍频光抽运时最佳的光学主平面和相位匹配方式,并分析了三波的时间走离和空间走离,以及信号光的参量增益和带宽. 为利用基于BIBO晶体的飞秒光参量技术获得高能量、宽调谐、窄脉宽的光源提供理论依据和实验指导. 关键词： 3O₆')" href="#">BiB₃O₆ 光参量变换 共线相位匹配 光学主平面     

Spectroscopic analysis of Er transition in Mg/Er-codoped LiNbO3 crystal

We present a Judd-Ofelt spectroscopic analysis on the Mg/Er-codoped congruent lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) crystals. The Judd-Ofelt model is applied to the room temperature unpolarized absorption intensities of Er³⁺ ions on eleven transition bands to determine their intensity parameters: Ω₂=2.36×10⁻²⁰ cm², Ω₄=0.76×10⁻²⁰ cm², Ω₆=0.30×10⁻²⁰ cm² in Er:LiNbO₃ crystal heavily codoped with MgO. The radiative lifetime of ²H_9/2 becomes longer when MgO is added into Er:LiNbO₃ crystal. The experimental lifetimes are obtained using microsecond time-resolved spectra at 400 nm femtosecond pulse excitation to predict radiative quantum efficiency. Combining higher radiative quantum efficiency with longer radiative lifetime, we conclude that Mg/Er-codoped LiNbO₃ crystals are more suitable than Er: LiNbO₃ ones in laser materials.     

Spectroscopic characterisation of Er-doped LuVO4 single crystals

The LuVO₄:Er single crystals were grown by the Czochralski technique. The crystal-field split energy levels of Er³⁺ ion were derived experimentally employing absorption and emission spectra measured at T=10 K. The Judd–Ofelt phenomenological method was used to estimate intensity parameters, radiative lifetimes and branching ratios of luminescence. The excited state dynamics of the LuVO₄:Er systems was investigated and experimental lifetimes of emitting levels were measured. The emission cross section of the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 transition in the infrared was calculated by the Füchtbauer–Ladenburg method. The gain cross section, estimated for several inverse-population parameters, allowed us to evaluate a potential laser activity of the LuVO₄:Er system at 1.6 μm. Also, the potential range of the optical pumping was assessed based on absorption spectra achieved at the room temperature. The optical losses related to the green up-converted emission, encountered under the 978 nm excitation between 300 and 670 K were indicated and discussed. Spectroscopic peculiarities of the Er³⁺-doped LuVO₄ crystal were discussed in relation to optical properties of the YVO₄:Er and GdVO₄:Er crystals. Taking into account the high quantum efficiency of the ⁴I_13/2 level, and satisfactory absorption and emission features, the LuVO₄:Er crystal can be considered as a promising active material for laser operation near 1.6 μm.     

Influence of post-growth treatment on the optical properties of In:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals

Congruent In (3 mol%):Ce:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals have been grown by the Czochralski method in air. Some crystal samples were reduced in Li₂CO₃ power, and others were oxidized in Nb₂O₅ power. The structure of crystals was studied by an infrared transmittance spectrum. The resistance ability to optical damage and the photorefractive properties were measured by light-induced scattering experiments and two-beam coupling, respectively. It has been found that the reduction treatment increased the photoconductivity , which resulted in decreased erasure time and diffraction efficiency, but higher light-induced scattering resistance ability. The oxidation treatment caused the inverse affect. Finally, the nonvolatile holographic recording in In:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals is realized.