Spectroscopic investigation of a new crystal： Nd^3＋,Yb^3＋：YVO4

The absorption and emission spectra of the YVO4 single crystal co-doped with 1 at.% Nd^3＋ and 1 at.% Yb^3＋ are investigated. The efficient Nd^3＋ → Yb^3＋ energy transfer and the back transfer （Yb^3＋ → Nd^3＋） are observed at room temperature. The fluorescence lifetime of the 4F3/2 level of Nd^3＋ in Nd,Yb：YVO4 is measured under 808 nm laser light excitation. The efficiency of Nd^3＋ → Yb^3＋ energy transfer in YVO4 is determined to be about 34%.     

Optical parameters and energy levels splitting of Ho^3＋ in Ho^3＋： GdVO4

Ho^3＋ ： GdVO4 is a new laser material suitable for high-power laser systems. In this paper we measure the absorption spectra of Ho^3＋ in the sample Ho^3＋： GdVO4. The intensity parameters are calculated by using the Judd-Ofelt theory. Some predicted spectroscopic parameters, such as the spontaneous radiative transition rate, branching ratio and integrated emission cross section are dealt with. And we also compare the optical parameters with those of other materials. From these results, it is found that there are many transitions which have large oscillator strengths and large integrated emission cross sections. Especially the transitions such as ^5 F4 → ^5 I 8, ^5 S2→^5 I8, ^5 F5 → ^5 I8 and ^5 I7 →^ 5 I8 are useful in solid-state lasers and other fields. Finally, we discuss the splitting of the energy levels of Ho^3＋ in the crystal GdVO4 based on the group theory.     

Judd--Ofelt analysis of spectra and experimental evaluation of laser performance of Tm3+ doped Lu2SiO5 crystal

This paper reports that the Tm^3＋：Lu2SiO5 （Tm：LSO） crystal is grown by Czochralski technique. The roomtemperature absorption spectra of Tm：LSO crystal are measured on a b-cut sample with 4 at.% thulium. According to the obtained Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ω2=9.3155×10^-20 cm^2, Ω4=8.4103×10^-20 cm^2, Ω6=1.5908×10^-20 cm^2, the fluorescence lifetime is calculated to be 2.03 ms for ^3F4 → ^3H6 transition, and the integrated emission cross section is 5.81×10^-18 cm^2. Room-temperature laser action near 2μm under diode pumping is experimentally evaluated in Tm：LSO. An optical-optical conversion efficiency of 9.1% and a slope efficiency of 16.2% are obtained with continuouswave maximum output power of 0.67 W. The emission wavelengths of Tm：LSO laser are centred around 2.06μm with spectral bandwidth of -13.6 nm.     

Optical transitions in Er^3＋ doped lead germanate glasses

Er^{3+}- and Er^{3+}/Yb^{3+}-doped lead germanate glasses that are suitable for use in fibre lasers and optical amplifiers as well as optical waveguide devices have been fabricated and characterized. The absorption spectra from near-infrared to visible were obtained and the Judd－Ofelt parameters were determined from the absorption band. Intense and broad 1.53μm infrared fluorescence and visible upconversion luminescence were observed under 976 nm diode laser excitation. For 1.53μm emission band, the full widths at half-maximum are 36, 37, 51 nm for GPE, GPYE and GPFE samples, respectively. For frequency upconversion emission, the intense bands centred at around 524, 545, 657nm are due to the {}^4S_{3/2}+{}^2H_{11/2}→{}^4I_{15/2} and {}^4F_{9/2}→{}^4I_{15/2} transitions of Er^{3+} ions. The quadratic dependence of the green and red emissions on excitation power indicates that the two-photon absorption process occurs under the 976nm excitation.     

Effect of preparation procedure on the magnetic and transport properties of double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6

Ordered and disordered double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 ceramics have been investigated by powder x-ray diffraction,magnetic and transport measurements, as well as Moessbauer spectroscopy. The heavily disordered sample can be acquired by annealing the ordered samples in argon. The annealing procedure affects not only the nature of grain boundaries but also the grain itself. The evidence of Moessbauer spectra performed at 77 and 300K indicates that there exist small oxygen deficient clusters of SrFeO3-y in the disordered sample. The paramagnetic Fe^4 and Fe^3 ions in the compound subsist down to 77K and the ratio of Fe^4 /Fe^3 increases with decreasing temperature.     

Comparative study of spectroscopic properties of Er^3＋／Yb^3＋-codoped tellurite glass and fibres under 980nm excitation＊

A tellurite fibre of TeO_{2}－ZnO－La_{2}O_{3}－Li_{2}O glass codoped with 20000 ppm ytterbium and 5000 ppm erbium was fabricated by the suction casting and rod-in-tube technologies. The absorption spectrum of Er^{3+}/Yb^{3+} -codoped bulk glass has been measured. From the Judd－Ofelt intensity parameters, the spontaneous emission probability and radiative lifetime τ_{rad} of Er^{3+}:{}^{4}I_{13/2}→{}^{4}I_{15/2} transition for the bulk glass have been calculated. The emission fluorescence spectra and lifetimes around 1.5μm, and subsequent upconversion fluorescence in the range of 500－700nm were measured in fibres and compared with those in bulk glass. The changes in amplified spontaneous emission with fibre length and pumping power was also measured. It was found that the emission spectrum from erbium in fibres is almost twice as broad as the corresponding spectrum in bulk glass when pumped at 980nm.     

Magnetocrystalline anisotropy and dynamic spin reorientation of half-doped Nd_(0.5)Pr_(0.5)FeO_3 single crystal

The single crystals of Nd_(0.5)Pr_(0.5)FeO_3 were successfully grown by optical floating zone method.Room temperature x-ray diffraction and Laue photograph declared the homogeneity and high quality of the crystal.The significant magnetic anisotropy and multiple magnetic transitions illustrate the complex magnetic structure.At high temperatures(T 66 K),it shows the typical characteristics of Γ_4(G_x,A_y,F_z) state.With the decrease of the temperature,it undergoes a first-order spin reorientation transition from Γ_4(G_x,A_y,F_z) to Γ_2(F_x,C_y,G_z) state in the temperature window of 45-66 K under an applied magnetic field of 0.01 T.As the temperature drops to ～17 K,a new magnetic interaction mechanism works,which results in a further enhancement of magnetization.The T-H phase diagram of Nd_(0.5)Pr_(0.5)FeO_3 single crystal was finally constructed.     

Effect of lithium-potassium mixed alkali on spectroscopic properties of Er^3＋-doped aluminophosphate glasses

Er^3＋-doped lithium-potassium mixed alkali aluminophosphate glasses belonging to the oxide system xK2O-（15-x）Li2O-4B2O3-11Al2O3-5BaO-65P2O5 are obtained in a semi-continuous melting quenching process. Spectroscopic properties of Er^3＋-doped glass matrix have been analysed by fitting the experimental data with the standard Judd-Ofelt theory. It is observed that Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ωt（t = 2, 4 and 6） of Er^3＋ change when the second alkali is introduced into glass matrix. The variation of line strength Sed[^4I13/2,^4I15/2] follows the same trend as that of the/26 parameter. The effect of mixed alkali on the spectroscopic properties of the aluminophosphate glasses, such as absorption cross-section, stimulated emission cross-section, spontaneous emission probability, branching ratio and the radiative lifetime, has also been investigated in this paper.     

Infrared-to-visible and infrared-to-violet upconversion fluorescence of rare earth doped LaF3 nanocrystals

This paper reports that hexagonal-phase LaF3：Yb0.20^3＋,Er0.02^3＋ and LaF3：Yb0.20^3＋, Tm0.02^3＋ nanocrystals （NCs） were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, powder x-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis are used to characterize the NCs. Under 980 nm excitation, the Yb^3＋/Er^3＋ and Yb^3＋/Tm^3＋ codoped NCs colloidal solutions present bright green and blue upconversion fluorescence, respectively. These NCs show efficient infrared-to-violet and infrared-to-visible upconversion. The upconversion fluo- rescence mechanisms of LaF2：Yb0.20^3＋, Er0.02^3＋ and LaF3：Yb0.20^3＋,Tm0.02^3＋ NCs are investigated with a 980-nm diode laser as excitation source.     

Theoretical analysis of the anisotropy of the magnetization of the Ho^3＋ ion in holmium iron garnet single crystals

The spontaneous magnetization of the Ho^3＋ ion in holmium iron garnet （HoIG） single crystals in the temperature range of 4.2-294K along the directions [111], [110], and [100] are calculated, taking into account the effects of six magnetically inequivalent sites occupied by the Ho^3＋ ions based on the quantum theory. The calculated results show that the magnetization of the Ho^3＋ ion in HoIG is obviously anisotropic. The theoretical results ave in agreement with those of experiments. A primary interpretation of the anisotropy of magnetization of the Ho^3＋ ion in HoIG is put forward.     

Preparation and luminescence characteristics of Eu^2＋ activated silicate phosphor

This paper synthesizes the Sr2SiO4：Eu^2＋ phosphor by high temperature solid-state reaction. The emission spectrum of Sr2SiO4 ： Eu^2＋ shows two bands centred at 480 and 547 nm, which agree well with the calculation values of emission spectrum, and the location of yellow emission of Sr2SiO4 ： Eu^2＋ is influenced by the Eu^2＋ concentration. The excitation spectrum for 547 nm emission has two bands at 363 and 402 nm. The emission spectrum of white light emitting diodes （w-LEDs） based on Sr2SiO4 ： Eu^2＋ phosphor ＋ InGaN LED was investigated.     

Thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence disadvantages of α-Al2O3:C crystal grown by the temperature gradient technique

Recently, α-Al₂O₃:C crystal with highly sensitive thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) has been successfully grown by the temperature gradient technique. This paper investigates the heating rate dependence of TL sensitivity, light-induced fading of TL signals and thermal stability of OSL of α-Al₂O₃:C crystals. As the heating rate increases, the integral TL response decreases and the dosimetric glow peak shifts to higher temperatures in α-Al₂O₃:C crystals. Light-induced fading of TL increases with the irradiation dose, and TL response decreases as the exposure time increases, especially in the first 15 minutes. With the increasing intensity of the exposure light, the TL fading of α-Al₂O₃:C crystal increases sharply. The OSL response of as-grown α-Al₂O₃:C crystal is quite stable below 373 K and decreases sharply for higher temperatures.     

Microstructural,magnetic and dielectric performance of rare earth ion (Sm3+)-doped MgCd ferrites

The combined effects of Sm$^{3+}$ substitution together with the addition of 3 wt% Bi$_{2}$O$_{3}$ endow MgCd ferrites with excellent magnetic permeability and dielectric permittivity. Various concentrations of Sm$^{3+}$ ($x = 0$, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12 and 0.15) were employed to modify the permeability ($\mu'$) and permittivity ($\varepsilon'$) of the MgCd ferrites. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometry and vector network analysis techniques were used to characterize the samples. The measurement results reveal that the ferrites processed a saturation magnetization of up to 36.8 emu/g and coercivity of up to 29.2 Oe via the conventional solid-state reaction method. The surface morphology SEM confirms that with increasing Sm$^{3+}$ concentration, the grain shape changes from a polygon to a circle. Moreover, the dielectric permittivity can reach a value of 23. The excellent properties obtained in Sm$^{3+}$-substituted Mg ferrites suggest that they could be promising candidates for modern high-frequency antenna substrates or multilayer devices.     

The mechanism research of the Cr^4＋Nd^3＋：YAG laser

The 946nm diode-pump microchip self-Q-switched laser of a chromium and neodymium codoped yttrium aluminum garnet crystal material (Cr^{4+}Nd^{3+}:YAG) is studied, especially about its physical mechanism of operation. The {}^4F_{3/2}→{}^4I_{9/2} transition of Nd^{3+} ion is beneficial to achieving laser oscillation in a quasi-three-level system based on coating the cavity mirrors of the microchip with films that suppress the 1064nm operation and enhance the 946nm laser. The Cr^{4+} ion is a saturable absorber. The initial loss N_{t1} is high, which acts as the threshold for laser oscillation. The stable loss N_{t2} is low because the Cr^{4+} ion is acceleratively bleached by the fast enhancement of the oscillating laser. The high N_{t1}, small N_{t2} and fast progresses permit the oscillating laser of the Cr^{4+}Nd^{3+}:YAG to have a good self-Q-switched property whose full width at half maximum is about 4.2ns. Its highest laser power is about 5.7mW. Its peak power is about 150W. Its good fundamental transverse TEM_{00} mode results from the absorption bleaching established by both the pump and oscillating lasers, which suppress other transverse mode and allow the oscillation only in the fundamental transverse TEM_{00} mode.     

Analysis of the laser performance of Tm3+, Tb3+(Ho3+):YVO4 crystals at ～1.5μm wavelength

The absorption spectra of Tb,Tm:YVO_4 and Ho,Tm:YVO_4 are measured. The radiant and non-radiant transition probabilities from higher level to lower level, A_{i,j} and ω_{i,j}, and the cross-elaxation probability are calculated in virtue of Judd－Ofelt and Dexter theories. The fluorescence lifetime of Tm^{3+} in the Tb^{3+} (or Ho^{3+}) co-doped crystal is calculated. It indicates that the lifetime of initial level {}^3H_4 of the laser transition can be shorter than that of terminal level {}^3F_4 of the transition if the atomic percentage of Tb^{3+} (or Ho^{3+}) ions is bigger than about 1 at%: namely, by means of the co-doping Tb^{3+} (or Ho^{3+}) ions the self-termination phenomenon of laser light can be eliminated. Inserting the optic parameters to the formula deduced here on the laser threshold power P^{(4)}_{th} and the slope efficiency η^{(4)}_s of the four-energy-level system, we obtain the relationship of threshold power P^{(4)}_{th} to the concentration of Tm^{3+} ions and discuss the effect of Tb^{3+} (or Ho^{3+}) ion concentration on the laser threshold power P^{(4)}_{th} around 1.5μm wavelength. The result shows that Tb,Tm:YVO_4 crystal is a better choice to make the laser at ～1.5μm wavelength than Ho,Tm:YVO_4 crystal. We give the appropriate composition of (1－2) at% Tb, (1－2) at% Tm:YVO_4, just for reference.     

Configurational entropy-induced phase transition in spinel LiMn2O4

The spinel-type LiMn$_{2}$O$_{4}$ is a promising candidate as cathode material for rechargeable Li-ion batteries due to its good thermal stability and safety. Experimentally, it is observed that in this compound there occur the structural phase transitions from cubic ($Fd\bar{3}m)$ to tetragonal ($I4_{1}/{amd}$) phase at slightly below room temperature. To understand the phase transition mechanism, we compare the Gibbs free energy between cubic phase and tetragonal phase by including the configurational entropy. Our results show that the configurational entropy contributes substantially to the stability of the cubic phase at room temperature due to the disordered Mn$^{3+}$/Mn$^{4+}$ distribution as well as the orientation of the Jahn-Teller elongation of the Mn$^{3+}$O$_{6}$ octahedron in the the spinel phase. Meanwhile, the phase transition temperature is predicted to be 267.8 K, which is comparable to the experimentally observed temperature. These results serve as a good complement to the experimental study, and are beneficial to the improving of the electrochemical performance of LiMn$_{2}$O$_{4}$ cathode.     

Ultraviolet and visible upconversion dynamics in Er^3＋：YAlO3 under ^2H11/2 excitation

The luminescence of Er^3＋：YAlO3 in ultraviolet visible and infrared ranges under the 518 nm excitation of the multiples ^2H11/2 have been investigated. Ultraviolet （275 nm and 318 nm）, violet （405 nm and 413 nm） and blue （474 nm） upconversion and infrared downconversion luminescence has been observed. By means of measuring the fluorescence decay curves and using the theory of rate equations, the luminescence kinetics was studied in detail and the processes of energy transfer upconversion （ETU） and excitation state absorption （ESA） were proposed to explain the upconversion phenomena.     

Slight Co-doping tuned magnetic and electric properties on cubic BaFeO3 single crystal

The single crystal of cubic perovskite BaFeO$_{3}$ shows multiple magnetic transitions and external stimulus sensitive magnetism. In this paper, a 5%-Co-doped BaFeO$_{3}$ (i.e. BaFe$_{0.95}$Co$_{0.05}$O$_{3})$ single crystal was grown by combining floating zone methods with high-pressure techniques. Such a slight Co doping has little effect on crystal structure, but significantly changes the magnetism from the parent antiferromagnetic ground state to a ferromagnetic one with the Curie temperature $T_{\rm C} \approx 120$ K. Compared with the parent BaFeO$_{3}$ at the induced ferromagnetic state, the saturated magnetic moment of the doped BaFe$_{0.95}$Co$_{0.05}$O$_{3}$ increases by about 10% and reaches 3.64 $\mu_{\rm B}$/f.u. Resistivity and specific heat measurements show that the ferromagnetic ordering favors metallic-like electrical transport behavior for BaFe$_{0.95}$Co$_{0.05}$O$_{3}$. The present work indicates that Co-doping is an effective method to tune the magnetic and electric properties for the cubic perovskite phase of BaFeO$_{3}$.     

Judd-Oflet analysis of spectrum and laser performance of Ho：YAP crystal end-pumped by 1.91μm Tm：YLF laser

The Ho:YAP crystal is grown by the Czochralski technique.The room temperature polarized absorption spectra of Ho:YAP crystal was measured on a c cut sample with 1 at% holmium.According to the obtained Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ω2 = 1.42 × 10-20 cm2,Ω4 = 2.92 × 10-20 cm2,and Ω6 = 1.71 × 10-20 cm2,this paper calculated the fluorescence lifetime to be 6 ms for 5I7 →5 I8 transition,and the integrated emission cross section to be 2.24×10-18 cm2.It investigates the room temperature Ho:YAP laser end pumped by a 1.91 μm Tm:YLF laser.The maximum output power was 4.1 W when the incident 1.91 μm pump power was 14.4 W.The slope efficiency is 40.8%,corresponding to an optical to optical conversion efficiency of 28.4%.The Ho:YAP output wavelength was centred at 2118 nm with full width at half maximum of about 0.8 nm.     

Spectroscopic properties of Ho 3 + -doped K–Sr–Al phosphate glasses

Trivalent holmium-doped K–Sr–Al phosphate glasses ( $\mathrm{P}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{5}$ – $\mathrm{K}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ –SrO– $\mathrm{Al}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{3}$ – $\mathrm{Ho}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{3}$ ) were prepared, and their spectroscopic properties have been evaluated using absorption, emission, and excitation measurements. The Judd–Ofelt theory has been used to derive spectral intensities of various absorption bands from measured absorption spectrum of 1.0 mol% $\mathrm{Ho}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{3}$ -doped K–Sr–Al phosphate glass. The Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters ( $\varOmega_{\lambda}$ , $\times10^{-20}~\mathrm{cm}^{2}$ ) have been determined of the order of $\varOmega_{2} = 11.39$ , $\varOmega_{4} = 3.59$ , and $\varOmega_{6} = 2.92$ , which in turn used to derive radiative properties such as radiative transition probability, radiative lifetime, branching ratios, etc. for excited states of $\mathrm{Ho}^{3+}$ ions. The radiative lifetimes for the ${}^{5}F_{4}$ , ${}^{5}S_{2}$ , and ${}^{5}F_{5}$ levels of $\mathrm{Ho}^{3+}$ ions are found to be 169, 296, and 317 μs, respectively. The stimulated emission cross-section for 2.05-μm emission was calculated by the McCumber theory and found to be $9.3\times10^{-2 1}~\mathrm{cm}^{2}$ . The wavelength-dependent gain coefficient with population inversion rate has been evaluated. The results obtained in the titled glasses are discussed systematically and compared with other $\mathrm{Ho}^{3+}$ -doped systems to assess the possibility for visible and infrared device applications.