The Q-switched Nd : YAG and Yb : YAG microchip lasers optimization and comparative analysis

The microchip lasers based on the neodymium or the ytterbium doped yttrium-aluminium garnet crystal and Q-sw itched by the Cr⁴⁺:YAG film are considered. The optimal (maximizing of energy) values of the pumping beam radius, the absorber parameters (the thickness and tetravalent chromium ion concentration), and the output mirror reflectivity are determined. The possibility of higher values of energy in the Yb:YAG laser pulse, in comparison with a more traditional Nd:YAG laser, is also substantiated. PACS 42.60.Gd     

Optimizing non-resonant frequency conversion in periodically poled media

Non-resonant frequency conversion into the blue, green, orange, and red spectral regions is reported. Fundamental light sources were continuous-wave non-planar monolithic single-mode ring Nd:YAG lasers as well as a standing-wave multi-mode Nd:YAG laser. Periodically poled KTiOPO₄ was employed as the nonlinear medium, but the considerations could also be applied to other periodically poled materials. A multi-pass scheme resulted in a normalized conversion efficiency as high as 27.2 %W^-1 for frequency doubling in the small-signal regime at 1064 nm. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.79.Nv; 42.70.Mp     

A sensitive non-destructive method for measuring the Nd doping concentration in Nd : YAG with high spatial resolution

This paper reports on an experimental method for measuring in Nd:YAG the Nd doping concentration (C) with high sensitivity (0.01 at.%Nd) and high spatial resolution (50 m). The method is based on the measurement of the fluorescence lifetime _f of the upper Nd laser level. Additional parameters required to determine C are the intrinsic fluorescence lifetime ₀ and the quenching parameter Q. The measured values of _f, ₀ (256.47±0.14 s) and Q (4.45±0.40×10²⁰ cm^-3) allow us to calculate the Nd concentration C with an absolute accuracy of 0.1 at.%Nd. By using this method C is measured at the outer surfaces of standard laser rods and at the faces of boule slices (with diameters of up to 50 mm). The obtained results demonstrate a detection sensitivity of 0.01 at.%Nd. PACS 42.70.Hj; 81.70.Fy     

Diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd : YAG laser at 1123 nm

A diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser at 1123 nm is passively Q-switched by using a low doping concentration Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystal as a saturable absorber. When pumped by a 1.5-W laser diode, the laser produces pulses of 50-ns duration with a pulse energy of as much as 15 J and a peak power of 300 W at a pulse-repetition rate of 10 kHz. PACS 42.60.Gd; 42.55.Rz; 42.55.Xi     

Influence of Hydrothermal Temperature on Structures and Photovoltaic Properties of SnO2 Nanoparticles

Two SnO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method at 170°C and 180°C, respectively. Transmission electron microscope observations reveal that the diameters of both the nanoparticles are around 6nm. At the same time, surface photovoltage spectroscopy measurements show that the nanoparticle synthesized at 180°C has more surface electronic states at 0.3eV below the conduction band than the one synthesized at 170°C. This means that the temperatures chosen in hydrothermal synthesis have significant influence on the surface electronic characteristics of resultant SnO² nanoparticles but the effect on their sizes is not obvious. However, after being calcined at 500°C for 2h, the diameter of the nanoparticle synthesized at 180°C increased to 23nm and that of the nanoparticle synthesized at 170°C increased to 32nm as calculated from X-ray diffraction pattern.     

Generalized Transvectants-Rankin–Cohen Brackets

We introduce o(p+1q+1)-invariant bilinear differential operators on the space of tensor densities on Rⁿ generalizing the well-known bilinear sl₂-invariant differential operators in the one-dimensional case, called Transvectants or Rankin–Cohen brackets. We also consider already known linear o(p+1q+1)-invariant differential operators given by powers of the Laplacian.     

Q-switched mode-locking with Cr4+ : YAG in a diode pumped Nd : GdVO4 laser

We have demonstrated passively Q-switched mode-locking in a laser-diode-pumped Nd:GdVO₄ laser with an intracavity Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber. At a pump power of 19.4 W, the Q-switched mode-locked laser produced an average output power of 3.22 W, and the repetition rates of the Q-switched envelope and the mode-locked laser pulse were 227 kHz and 144 MHz, respectively. The duration of the mode-locked pulse was within the sub-nanosecond range. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Fc; 42.60.Gd; 42.55.Rz     

Compact efficient intracavity optical parametric oscillator with a passively Q-switched Nd : YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/Cr<Superscript>4+</Superscript> : YAG laser in a hemispherical cavity

A compact eye-safe optical parametric oscillator (OPO) using a noncritically phase-matched KTP crystal intracavity pumped by a passively Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ laser is experimentally demonstrated. To enhance the performance of passive Q-switching, a Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber crystal is coated as an OPO output coupler in a nearly hemispherical cavity. With an incident pump power of 2.5 W, the compact intracavity OPO cavity, operating at 62.5 kHz, produces average powers at 1573 nm up to 255 mW and peak powers higher than 1 kW. PACS 42.60.Gd; 42.65.Yj; 42.55.Xi     

The early oxynitridation stages of hydrogen-terminated (100) silicon after exposure to N2:N2O. II. Silicon and oxygen bonding states

The early oxidation stages of hydrogen-terminated single-crystalline (100) silicon have been studied by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, following the evolution of the Si2p and O1s signals after exposure to N₂:N₂O ambient at 850 °C for different durations. Evidence is given that the usual analysis of the film in terms of the Si2p peak leads to inconsistencies, related to the presence in the film of non-siloxanic bridges, as oxygen-rich defects (like hydroxyl terminations or peroxo bridges) or oxygen-deficient defects (like amino bridges). Information on the film structure is obtained by combining the analysis of the Si2p peak with that of the O1s peak. PACS 82.65.+r; 68.35.Fx; 68.35.Dv; 79.60.Jv     

Ablation studies using a diode-pumped Nd : YVO4 micro-laser

We report an investigation of ablating several materials using a nanosecond pulse duration Nd:YVO₄ micro-laser operating at wavelengths of 1064 and 532 nm and high pulse-repetition rate (20 kHz). Probe beam deflection, ballistic pendulum measurements and scanning electron microscopy are used to characterise the interaction. It is shown that good-quality micro-scale features can be produced in polyimide, gold foils and silicon targets by ablation using this laser. PACS 42.55.Xi; 52.38.Mf; 87.80.Mj     

Luminescent CdS Nanoparticles Embedded in Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 300) Matrix Thin Film

A simple method for synthesis of well dispersed cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles embedded in a polyethylene glycol matrix (PEG 300) in thin film form is presented. The molar ratio of PEG and CdS was varied within the range 70:30 to as high as 50:50. Films with controllable sizes (r 3 –8nm) of nanocrystals could be obtained by adjusting post-deposition annealing temperature (T) and time (t). The obtained films showed systematic variation in optical properties with decreasing crystal size due to quantum confinement. Transmission electron micrographs (TEM) indicated well resolved nanoparticles for films annealed at lower temperature (T = 373K) and time (t < 45 min). Photoluminescence (PL) studies indicated blue shift with decreasing particle size. The films did not degrade with aging in a humid atmosphere (relative humidity 40%) for several weeks.     

Randomizing Quantum States: Constructions and Applications

The construction of a perfectly secure private quantum channel in dimension d is known to require 2logd shared random key bits between the sender and receiver. We show that if only near-perfect security is required, the size of the key can be reduced by a factor of two. More specifically, we show that there exists a set of roughly dlogd unitary operators whose average effect on every input pure state is almost perfectly randomizing, as compared to the d² operators required to randomize perfectly. Aside from the private quantum channel, variations of this construction can be applied to many other tasks in quantum information processing. We show, for instance, that it can be used to construct LOCC data hiding schemes for bits and qubits that are much more efficient than any others known, allowing roughly logd qubits to be hidden in 2logd qubits. The method can also be used to exhibit the existence of quantum states with locked classical correlations, an arbitrarily large amplification of the correlation being accomplished by sending a negligibly small classical key. Our construction also provides the basic building block for a method of remotely preparing arbitrary d-dimensional pure quantum states using approximately logd bits of communication and logd ebits of entanglement.     

Combined use of GDOES,SEM + EDS,XRD and OM for the microchemical study of the corrosion products on archaeological bronzes

By means of the combined use of glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES), scanning electron microscopy+energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM+EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy (OM), corrosion products, i.e., the patina, grown on archaeological leaded bronze artefacts used by Punics and Romans, have been studied. This innovative approach has been utilised in order to gain further insight into the microchemical structure of the corrosion products as well as for selecting the cleaning and restoration methods. For all of the archaeological artefacts, the results show that via the innovative use of GDOES, it is possible to obtain reliable and reproducible quantitative elemental composition depth profiles for the outermost corroded layers, which are briefly discussed in combination with the microchemical features obtained via SEM+EDS, XRD and optical microscopy. Finally, the results show that GDOES, with its ability to provide routine and rapid analysis of layers of thickness up to 120 m, seems to be a powerful technique in studies of the corrosion products on archaeological bronzes, with the aim of restoring and conserving ancient high tin or low tin leaded bronzes. PACS 68.55Jk; 68.35 Dv; 68.37Hk; 68.55 Nq; 81.05 Bx     

Selective metallization of polyimide by laser-induced plasma-assisted ablation (LIPAA)

We report micromachining of polyimide (PI) by laser-induced plasma-assisted ablation (LIPAA) using a fundamental wavelength of a commercial Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm). It is found that an Au film on a glass target is effective for the LIPAA process of PI. The ablation rate reaches several tens of nanometers per pulse. After the LIPAA process, selective metallization of PI with excellent electrical properties is performed by successive electroless Cu plating. The Cu line width of 40 m, which agrees with the line width of regions ablated by the LIPAA process, is achieved using an encapsulated film. PACS 42.62.-b; 52.38.-r; 85.40.Ls     

Resonances in 12C and Their Breakup to the 3α Final State

The breakup of ¹²C states into three -particles is discussed in the context of the continuum three-body problem. New information from the -decay of ¹²N populating 0⁺, 1⁺, and 2⁺ states in ¹²C is presented. The breakup mechanism of the 1⁺ state at 12.71MeV is clarified, the spin of the 10.3MeV state is determined as 0⁺, and evidence for a previously unknown 2⁺ state at 14.1(2)MeV is given.     

Growth and characterization of Nd-doped SBN single crystal fibers

The growth from ceramic pedestals of single crystal fibers of strontium barium niobate (SBN), doped with different Nd concentrations, was studied. High-quality fibers were grown for Nd doping levels of up to 4.2 at.%, and doping levels as high as 9.9 at.% were reached. No signs of core effects were observed, even for the highest concentration samples. The emission spectra of Nd³⁺ ions in the fibers did not differ from those obtained from bulk SBN crystals, showing very broad bands due to the typical disorder of the crystallographic tungsten-bronze structure. Fluorescence quenching was clearly observed for Nd doping levels above 2 at.%. PACS 81.10.Fq; 78.55.-m     

Q-switching of a diode cladding-pumped Erbium Fibrelaser at 2.7 μm

Reliable Q-switched operation of a cladding-pumped 2.7m ZBLAN fibre laser in the range of the power limit of self-destruction is shown for the first time. The laser is pumped by a multimode diode. Q-switching is achieved by two different techniques: a rotating mirror and an acousto-optical modulator. Pulse widths of 500ns with the rotating mirror and 300ns (FWHM) with the acousto-optical modulator and pulse energies in the J range are achieved.     

Electroless deposition of Ag on Pd-activated TiN/p-Si(100) substrate

Nano-thick Ag films were electrolessly deposited on TiN/p-Si(100) substrates. The substrates were prepared by sputtering TiN on p-Si(100) wafers. An activation process of the substrates was performed by immersing the substrates in a solution of 0.0019 moLL^-1PdCl₂+0.45 moLL^-1HF+8.7 moLL^-1aceticacid+0.036 moLL^-1 HCl so as to obtain the Pd seed layer. The general composition of the electroless Ag bath was 0.0032 moLL^-1AgNO₃+2.24 moLL^-1NH₃+0.56 moLL^-1aceticacid+0.1 moLL^-1 NH₂NH₂ at pH 10.2. The morphologies of the Pd seed layer and the Ag films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effect of the Pd activation on electroless Ag deposition was tested by open circuit potential with time technology (OCP-t). For comparison, the morphology of the films deposited by electrochemical deposition on the substrates was also studied by AFM. PACS 82.45.Mp; 81.15.Pq; 81.10.Dn     

Experimental demonstration of a photonic-crystal-fiber optical diode

Two cascaded hollow-core photonic-crystal fibers with slightly shifted, but still overlapping, transmission peaks are shown to function as an optical diode for ultra-short laser pulses. Submicrojoule 100-fs Ti:sapphire laser pulses with a spectrum falling within the passband of one of the fibers, but outside the passband of the second fiber, experience spectral broadening due to self-phase modulation in the first fiber. A part of this self-phase-modulation-broadened spectrum is then transmitted through the second fiber. Identical short pulses propagating in the opposite direction are blocked by the second fiber with a shifted passband. A forward-to-backward signal ratio exceeding 40 is achieved with the created photonic-crystal fiber diode for 0.9-J, 100-fs pulses of 800-nm Ti:sapphire laser radiation. PACS 42.65.Wi; 42.81.Qb     

Unusual Behavior of Nanocrystalline Strontium Oxide Toward Hydrogen Sulfide

The thermodynamically favored reaction of solid strontium oxide with gaseous hydrogen sulfide is kinetically enhanced to a large degree by the use of higher surface area nanocrystalline SrO in the form of brush-like collections of metal oxide fibers. An unusual feature is that the reaction SrO + H₂S SrS + H₂O proceeds stoichiometrically at room temperature, but at higher temperatures the reaction efficiency goes down, apparently due to rapid temperature induced crystal growth of the nanocrystalline SrO. The samples studied vary in crystallite size from 20 to 27nm, while average particle size (nanocrystal aggregates) varies in the following order; aerogel prepared SrO (100nm) 相似文献