1.5 μm Emission and infrared-to-visible frequency upconversion in Er+3/Yb+3-doped phosphoniobate glasses

Sodium phosphoniobate glasses with the composition (mol%) 75NaPO₃–25Nb₂O₅ and containing 2 mol% Yb³⁺ and x mol% Er³⁺ (0.01 ⩽ x ⩽ 2) were prepared using the conventional melting/casting process. Er³⁺ emission at 1.5 μm and infrared-to-visible upconversion emission, upon excitation at 976 nm, are evaluated as a function of the Er³⁺ concentration. For the lowest Er³⁺ content, 1.5 μm emission quantum efficiency was 90%. Increasing the Er³⁺ concentration up to 2 mol%, the emission quantum efficiency was observed to decrease to 37% due to concentration quenching. The green and red upconversion emission intensity ratio was studied as a function of Yb³⁺ co-doping and the Er³⁺–Er³⁺ energy transfer processes.     

Thermo-optical properties and nonradiative quantum efficiency of Er3+-doped and Er3+/Tm3+-co-doped tellurite glasses

Thermal lens (TL) measurements were performed in tellurite glasses, 70TeO₂–19WO₃–7Na₂O–4Nb₂O₅ (mol%), undoped, doped with Er³⁺ (1.19 × 10²⁰ ions/cm³) and co-doped with Er³⁺ (1.19 × 10²⁰ ions/cm³)/Tm³⁺ (1.56 × 10²⁰ ions/cm³). The absolute nonradiative quantum efficiency (ϕ) was determined by the TL method. The ϕ values for Er³⁺/Tm³⁺-co-doped and Er³⁺-doped tellurite glasses were 0.98 and 0.74, respectively. Fluorescence spectra were performed at λ_e = 488 nm and used to estimate the fluorescence quantum efficiency (η) using the TL results. These values were compared with results obtained by Judd–Ofelt calculations.     

Up‐conversion luminescence of ytterbium and thulium codoped potassium yttrium double tungstate crystal

Thulium and ytterbium co‐doped double tungstate Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺: NaY(WO₄)₂ single crystals were prepared by using RF‐heating Czochralski (CZ) pulling method. Its polarized transmittance spectra have been recorded in the region of 290‐2000 nm at room temperature. The energy levels transitions were assigned to the corresponding absorption line. The up‐conversion luminescences at 793 nm and 475 nm were measured when the sample were pumped by 972 nm LD and the energy transfer mechanism between Yb³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions was analyzed.     

Contribution to the study of elastic properties of KGd(WO4)2:Er3+ single crystals by Brillouin spectroscopy

In this paper we present the study of the acoustic phonons propagating in Er³⁺‐doped KGd(WO₄)₂ single crystals by Brillouin spectroscopy. For the investigated crystals the velocities of the longitudinal and transverse acoustic phonons [100], [010], [001], [101] and [110] have been determined. Moreover, the values of the elastic constants: C₂₂, C₄₄ and C₆₆ of Er³⁺‐doped KGd(WO₄)₂ single crystals have been estimated. It was revealed that the presence of the Er³⁺‐ions in KGd(WO₄)₂ crystals, for the used doping concentration 1 at% does not influence their elastic properties. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Er3+/Yb3+-activated silica-hafnia planar waveguides for photonics fabricated by rf-sputtering

95.8SiO₂–4.2HfO₂ planar waveguide activated by 0.2 mol% Er and 0.2 mol% Yb was fabricated by multi-target rf-sputtering technique. The optical parameters were measured by an m-line apparatus operating at 543.5, 632.8, 1319 and 1542 nm. The waveguide compositions were investigated by energy dispersive spectroscopy. The waveguide exhibits a single propagation mode at 1.3 and 1.5 μm with an attenuation coefficient of 0.2 dB/cm at 1.5 μm. The emission of ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺ ion, with a 42 nm bandwidth was observed upon TE₀ mode excitation at 980 and 514.5 nm. Photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy was used to obtain information about the effective excitation efficiency of Er³⁺ ions by co-doping with Yb³⁺ ions. Channel waveguide in rib configuration were fabricated by wet etching process in the active film.     

Crystal Growth and Spectroscopic Characterisation of BiB3O6:RE3+ (RE3+ = Pr3+, Nd3+, Gd3+, Er3+, Tm3+)

Large single crystals of optical quality of BiB₃O₆:RE³⁺ (RE³⁺ = Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Gd³⁺, Er³⁺, Tm³⁺) were grown from nearly stoichiometric melts using the top‐seeding growth technique to dimensions up to 12 x 12 x 18 mm³. Absorption spectra were measured in the wavelength range from 10000 cm^‐1 to 30000 cm^‐1 with an absorption spectrometer to estimate the doping concentration of RE³⁺. For the determination of the phonon energies and the quenching behaviour of the host lattice IR and Raman spectra were recorded.     

Influence of Mg/Er co‐doping on the principal laser parameters of LiNbO3 crystals

Mg: Er: LiNbO₃ crystals were grown by the Czochralski technique with various concentrations of MgO = 2 mol%, 4 mol%, 6 mol% and the fixed concentration of Er₂O₃= 1 mol% in the melt, and the 8 mol%Mg: 1 mol%Er: LiNbO₃ crystal was fabricated by the Czochralski technique with special technology process. The crystals were treated by polarization, reduction and oxidation. The segregation coefficients of Mg²⁺ and Er³⁺ in Mg: Er: LiNbO₃ crystals were measured by X‐ray fluorescence spectrograph, as well as the crystal's defect structure and optical properties were analyzed by the UV‐Vis, IR and fluorescent spectroscopy. The pump wavelength and the surge wavelength were determined. Using m‐line method tested optical damage resistance of those crystals, the results show that photodamage threshold of Mg: Er: LiNbO₃ crystals are higher than that of Er: LiNbO₃ crystal, and the oxidation treat could enhance the photodamage resistant ability of crystals while the reduction treat could depress the ability. The optical damage resistance of 8 mol%Mg: 1 mol%Er: LiNbO₃ crystal was the strongest among the samples, which was two orders magnitude higher than that of 1 mol%Er: LiNbO₃ crystal. The dependence of the optical properties on defect structure of Mg: Er: LiNbO₃ crystals was discussed. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Double‐frequency properties of In:LiNbO3 crystals

1 mol%, 2 mol%, 3 mol%, 4 mol% and 5 mol% In³⁺ doped LiNbO₃ crystals were grown by the Czochralski method, respectively. Oxidized treatment of some crystals was carried out. The infrared transmission spectra and photo‐damage resistance of the samples were measured. The results showed that the OH^‐ absorption peaks of In(3mol%):LiNbO₃, In(4mol%):LiNbO₃ and In(5mol%):LiNbO₃ crystals were located at about 3508 cm^‐1, while those of In(1mol%):LiNbO₃ and In(2mol%):LiNbO₃ crystals were located at about 3484cm^‐1. When the doped In³⁺ concentration reached its threshold in LiNbO₃ crystal, photo‐damage resistance of In:LiNbO₃ crystals was two orders of magnitude higher than that of pure LiNbO₃ crystal. The experimental results of the second harmonic generation (SHG) showed that the phase matching temperatures of In:LiNbO₃ crystals were lower than those of Zn:LiNbO₃ and Mg:LiNbO₃ crystals and the SHG efficiency reached 38%. Oxidization treatment was also found to make the dark trace resistance of crystals increase. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

New garnet crystal potentially suited for mini-laser devices of 1.5-μm spectral range

In Er:doped crystals, the 1.5-μm (⁴I_13/2–⁴I_15/2) transition is of negligibly small intensity. To intensify this transition, the (Gd,Y)₃(Ga,Sc)₅O₁₂ host crystal has been chosen as a basic medium. The single crystal garnet films with thickness up to 18-μm were grown using the method of liquid-phase epitaxy on Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ substrates. The 20-at.% maximal concentration of Er³⁺-ions was achieved without luminescence quenching. The up-conversion processes were neutralized by the addition of an Fe-ions sensitizer. At the same level of absorbed pumping power, the luminescence intensity at the 1.5-μm band for the Er:Fe:doped crystal was approximately one to two orders of magnitude higher than that for traditional content. Heavily doped crystals demonstrated broadening of the luminescence band up to 300 nm.     

Structural Characteristics of Er Doped LiNbO3 Thin Films Grown by the Liquid Phase Epitaxy Method

Erbium (Er³⁺) doped LiNbO₃ single crystal thin films have been grown LiNbO₃ (001) substrate by the liquid phase epitaxy method. The crystallinity was determined by high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction. The lattice mismatch between Er³⁺ doped LiNbO₃ films and LiNbO₃ (001) substrate was investigated by X‐ray rocking curve analysis. Also we studied the structural characteristics of Er³⁺ doped LiNbO₃ films and surface morphology dependent on the film thickness.     

Optical Properties of Er Doped Congruent and Stoichiometric LiNbO3 Single Crystals

Erbium doped LiNbO₃ (Er:LiNbO₃) single crystal fibers were grown free of cracks along c‐axis by the micro‐pulling down (μ‐PD) method. We have investigated the up‐conversion property with the change of doped Er₂O₃ concentration and the starting melt composition. An enhancement of green upconversion according host matrix is also observed the stoichiometric LiNbO₃. And, the dependence of the green emission according to Er³⁺ concentration is analyzed. The possible application of the Er³⁺ doped stoichiometric LiNbO₃ single crystal fiber for up‐conversion based optical devices is discussed.     

Thermal and spectroscopic properties of Tm3 + doped TZPPN transparent glass laser material

In this work a transparent bulk glass with the mol% composition 76TeO₂·10ZnO·9.0PbO·1.0PbF₂·3.0Na₂O doped with Tm^3 + has been synthesized. Results of differential thermal analysis (DTA) indicate a high thermal stability and low tendency to crystallization of this glass. The refractive indices at different wavelengths, the Urbach energy, the optical energy gap, the Sellmeier gap energy and the dispersion energy have been estimated. Spectroscopic quality factor of Tm^3 + was evaluated from optical absorption spectra. Electric and magnetic dipole transition probabilities, branching ratios, and radiative lifetimes of several excited states of Tm^3 + have been predicted using calculated intensity Judd–Ofelt parameters. The classical McCumber theory has been applied to evaluate the emission cross-sections for ³F₄ → ³H₆ transition around 1.8 μm. This study shows that TZPPN glass doped with Tm^3 + ions is a promising candidate for laser applications.     

Micro‐Pulling Down Growth of Co‐doped Lithium Niobate Single Crystal Fibers According Er and Mg Contents and Photolumenescence Properties

The Er³⁺doped Mg:LiNbO₃single crystal fibers employed in our experiment were grown in air by a micro‐pulling down (μ‐PD) method from host materials of a congruent Li/Nb (0.945) ratio which were melt‐doped with a nominal molar concentration of 1, 3, 5% MgO and 0.6% Er₂O₃. The X‐ray diffraction analysis results indicated that the co‐doped crystals main tained the same structural characteristics as the undoped LiNbO₃, however the lattice parameters with Mg differed; c (Å) value decreased, and a (Å) increased than of pure LiNbO₃. The influence of dopants on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of the Er:Mg:LiNbO₃ single crystal fibers excited by laser lines of 514 nm was reported. Also, the PL properties according to temperature and the excitation power of Er:Mg:LiNbO₃ crystal fibers were analyzed.     

Defect structure and spectroscopic characteristics of codoped Hf: Er: LiNbO3 crystals

Codoped Hf: Er: LiNbO₃ crystals have been grown by the Czochralski technique. Defect structures of the crystals were analyzed by IR absorption spectra, and the compositions of the crystals were measured by X‐ray fluorescent spectrograph. A new OH^–‐associated vibrational peak at 3492 cm^–1 was revealed in 6 mol % Hf: 1 mol % Er: LiNbO₃ crystal. It was attributed to (Hf_Nb)^–‐OH^–‐(Er_Nb)^2– defect centers. The Er³⁺ concentrations in crystals gradually decreased with the increase of the codoped Hf⁴⁺ concentrations in the melts. The emission characteristics of the crystals were investigated by the fluorescence spectrum. It was found that the luminescent intensity in codoped 6 mol % Hf: 1 mol % Er: LiNbO₃ crystal was 3.5 times stronger than that in single doped 1 mol % Er: LiNbO₃ crystal. The luminescent enhancement effect was successfully explained on the basis of defect structure of the crystals. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical absorption spectra of LiNbO3, Fe:LiNbO3, and Zn:Fe:LiNbO3 single crystals grown by Bridgman method

The optical absorption spectra of LiNbO₃ (LN), Fe:LiNbO₃ (Fe:LN), and Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ (Zn:Fe:LN) single crystals grown by Bridgman method were measured and compared. The absorption characteristics of the samples and the effects of growth process conditions on the absorption spectra were investigated. The Fe, Zn and Li concentrations in the crystals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry. The results indicated that the overall Fe ion and Fe²⁺ concentration in Fe:LN and Zn:Fe:LN crystals increased along the growing direction. The incorporation of ZnO in Fe:LN crystal induced increase of Fe²⁺ in the crystal. Among Fe‐doped and Zn:Fe‐codoped LN single crystals, 3 mol% ZnO doped Fe:LN had a biggest change of Fe²⁺ ion concentration from bottom to top part of crystal. The effects of technical conditions (atmosphere and thermal history) on Fe²⁺ ion concentration were discussed. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spectroscopic properties and energy transfer in Ga2O3– Bi2O3–PbO–GeO2 glasses codoped with Tm3+ and Ho3+

This paper reports on the spectroscopic properties and energy transfer in Ga₂O₃–Bi₂O₃–PbO–GeO₂ glasses doped with Tm³⁺ and/or Ho³⁺. From the optical absorption spectra of Tm³⁺, Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters, radiative transitions probabilities, fluorescence branching ratios, and radiative lifetimes have been calculated using Judd–Ofelt theory. The measured differential scanning calorimetry result shows that the glass exhibits excellent stability against devitrification with ΔT = 129 °C. The measured luminescence spectra show that the ³H₄ → ³F₄ transition of Tm³⁺ upon 808 nm laser diode excitation possess a broad full width at half-maximum of ∼126 nm. The maximum value calculated stimulated emission cross-section and the measured lifetime of ³H₄ level from the 1.47-μm transition are ∼4.73 × 10⁻²¹ cm² and ∼0.239 ms, respectively. It is noticed that codoping of Ho³⁺ could significantly enhanced the ratio of the intensity of 1.47–1.80 μm by energy transfer via Tm³⁺: ³F₄ → Ho³⁺: ⁵I₇.     

Studies on the growth and optical characterization of Tm3+‐doped BaY2F8 single crystals

The BaY₂F₈ crystals doped with different concentrations of Tm³⁺ ions were prepared by the temperature gradient technique (TGT). X‐ray powder diffraction was applied to analyze the phase. The cracking phenomenon along (010) and (100) planes of the crystals grown by temperature gradient technique was studied on the basis of the structure of BaY₂F₈ crystals. The absorption spectra were measured and investigated in the ultraviolet‐visible and near‐infrared ranges at room temperature. Several characteristic absorption bands of Tm³⁺‐doped BaY₂F₈ crystal were observed. The emission and excitation spectra were obtained and investigated at room temperature and 12 K, showing the characteristic emission peaks of Tm³⁺ ions. The temperature dependence of Photoluminescence curve was also investigated in the range of 12–296 K. The luminescence intensity of emission bands decreased with increasing temperature, while the effective bandwidth increased. The up‐conversion spectrum excited at 650 nm was recorded and up‐conversion mechanism was analyzed in detail. The result showed the purple, green and yellow emissions corresponding to ³P₁→³F₃, ¹D₂→³H₅ and ³P₀→¹G₄ transitions, respectively.     

Investigation of infrared emission and lifetime in Tm-doped 75TeO2:20ZnO:5Na2O (mol%) glasses: Effect of Ho and Yb co-doping

In this paper we describe fabrication and characterization of rare-earth-doped active tellurite glasses to be used as active laser media for fiber lasers emitting in the 2 μm region. The base composition is (mol%): 75TeO₂-20ZnO-5Na₂O with different concentrations of Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺ and Ho³⁺ as dopants or co-dopants. Optical properties of doped glasses were studied and pumping at 800 nm and at 980 nm were tested in order to compare the efficiency of two pumping mechanisms. Optical characterization carried out on glasses containing only Tm³⁺ ions indicated the optimum concentration of Tm₂O₃ in terms of emission efficiency as 1 wt%. The addition of 5 wt% of Yb₂O₃ to Tm³⁺-doped glasses led to the best results in terms of intensity of fluorescence emission and of lifetime values. Yb and Ho co-doped Tm-tellurite glass was measured in emission.     

2 μm spectroscopic investigation of Tm3+-doped tellurite glass fiber

TmF₃ doped TeO₂–ZnO–La₂O₃ (TZL) glasses and fibers have been prepared by the conventional melt-quenching and suction casting methods, respectively. 2 μm emission properties and energy transfer mechanisms of the TZL glasses and fibers have been analyzed and discussed. The oscillator strength, Judd–Ofelt parameters, radiative transition probability and radiative lifetime of Tm³⁺ have been calculated based on the absorption spectra and Judd–Ofelt theory. The maximum emission cross-section of Tm³⁺ is 6.9 × 10^?21 cm² near 2 μm. Emission spectra have been obtained from both TZL fibers and bulk glass when excited with a 794 nm pump. The results of 2 μm emission spectra indicate that the line width of Tm³⁺ measured in fibers is narrower than that in the bulk glass sample. The peak position of the emission spectra shifts to longer wavelength with increment of the fiber length.     

Enhanced mid-IR luminescence of Tm3+ ions in Ga2S3 nanocrystals embedded chalcohalide glass ceramics

Chalcohalide glass with a composition of 65GeS₂–25Ga₂S₃–10CsI (in mol%) doped with 0.6 wt% Tm³⁺ ions was prepared by conventional melt–quench method. By heat treating the precursor glass at 20 °C above its glass transition temperature T_g for different durations, IR transparent glass ceramics were obtained. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that Ga₂S₃ crystallites were precipitated after heat treatment and their grain sizes were in nano-scale and increased with the elongation of heat treated time. Mid-IR luminescence properties of the glass and transparent glass ceramic samples were investigated. The emissions at 2.3 and 3.8 μm corresponding to optical transitions of ³H₄ → ³H₅ and ³H₅ → ³F₄ of Tm³⁺ ions were significantly enhanced by the presence of Ga₂S₃ nanocrystals and reached a maximum after 8 hours treatment.