High-precision pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy in NO2-N2

A method for high-precision pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy applied to a simple system for detection of NO₂ traces in nitrogen is presented. The acoustic signal from a closed cell containing NO₂/N₂ samples irradiated by a pulsed visible laser is analyzed in the frequency domain. A signal-processing method to obtain a high-resolution Fourier spectrum of the signal was developed. An accurate fitting of the resonance peaks with Lorentzian profiles gives high-precision determination of the amplitude and width of the resonance peaks. The resonance maximum is proportional to the absorbed energy; therefore, the choice of the laser wavelength, linewidth and frequency stability are critical for a precise calibration due to the fine structure of the NO₂ optical spectrum. The method also allows high-accuracy measurement of the Q of the acoustic cavity. The dependence of Q on the buffer gas pressure is characteristic of an acoustic cavity where energy losses near the walls predominate. Consequently, an important enhancement of sensitivity takes place at high N₂ pressure. Received: 1 June 2001 / Revised version: 27 July 2001 / Published online: 7 November 2001     

Efficient tunable laser operation of diode- pumped Yb,Tm:KY(WO4)2 around 1.9 μm

A new laser medium – Yb,Tm:KY(WO₄)₂ – for diode pumped solid state laser applications operating around 1.9 to 2.0 μm has been investigated and the main laser characteristics are presented. Diode pumping at 981 nm and around 805 nm was realised. For 981-nm pumping, the excitation occurs into Yb³⁺ ions followed by an energy transfer to Tm³⁺ions. A slope efficiency of 19% was realised. For pumping around 805 nm, the excitation occurs directly into the Tm³⁺ ions. Here a maximum slope efficiency of 52%, an optical efficiency of 40%, and output powers of more than 1 W were realised. Using a birefringent quartz plate as an intracavity tuning element, the tunability of the Yb,Tm:KY(WO₄)₂ laser in the spectral range of 1.85–2.0 μm has been demonstrated. The possibility of laser operation in a microchip cavity configuration for this material has also been shown. Received: 12 March 2002 / Revised version: 20 May 2002 / Published online: 25 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-531/592-4116, E-mail: stefan.kueck@ptb.de     

Design of optical polarization splitters in a single-section deeply etched MMI waveguide

The design of a single-section polarization splitter in a deeply etched semiconductor MMI waveguide is presented. Numerically simulated results indicate that the semiconductor MMI exhibits considerable polarization dependence and, utilizing this effect, a compact 1.6-mm-long polarization splitter may be fabricated to yield more than 8-dB polarization separation and only 0.11-dB optical loss, using a very simple design-approach. Received: 16 May 2001 / Revised version: 14 August 2001 / Published online: 2 November 2001     

High dynamic range optical limiting in fullerene doped porous glasses

A diffusion-controlled technique of obtaining gradient in molecular distribution of C₆₀ molecules in porous vycor glass is presented. Here toluene solution of C₆₀ is allowed to diffuse only in one-dimension. The molecular distribution in the doped glass is measured by transmission method. By comparing optical limiting performance in the graded and uniformly doped glasses, we show that there is about 10-fold increase in the dynamic range in graded device. Received: 10 July 2001 / Accepted: 11 January 2002 / Published online: 3 May 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. E-mail: mukesh@cat.ernet.in     

Electroluminescence of silicon nanocrystals in MOS structures

We have studied the structural, electrical and optical properties of MOS devices, where the dielectric layer consists of a substoichiometric SiO_x (x<2) thin film deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. After deposition the samples were annealed at high temperature (>1000 °C) to induce the separation of the Si and the SiO₂ phases with the formation of Si nanocrystals embedded in the insulating matrix. We observed at room temperature a quite intense electroluminescence (EL) signal with a peak at ∼850 nm. The EL peak position is very similar to that observed in photoluminescence in the very same device, demonstrating that the observed EL is due to electron–hole recombination in the Si nanocrystals and not to defects. The effects of the Si concentration in the SiO_x layer and of the annealing temperature on the electrical and optical properties of these devices are also reported and discussed. In particular, it is shown that by increasing the Si content in the SiO_x layer the operating voltage of the device decreases and the total efficiency of emission increases. These data are reported and their implications discussed. Received: 31 August 2001 / Accepted: 3 September 2001 / Published online: 17 October 2001     

Optical gain of interdiffused GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells

A self-consistent model for the band structure and optical gain spectra in interdiffused Ga_xIn_1-xN_0.04As_0.96/GaAs single quantum wells are studied theoretically using Fick’s Law and the Fermi Golden Rule. Due to quantum-well interdiffusion, the peak gain and its peak vary with the annealing time. Our results show that the interdiffusion technique can be used to tune the operation wavelength for multi-wavelength applications without degradation of device performance. Received: 18 April 2001 / Accepted: 19 September 2001 / Published online: 20 December 2001     

Chemical-bond analysis of the nonlinear optical properties of the borate crystals LiB3O5, CsLiB6O10, and CsB3O5

The second-order nonlinear optical properties of practical borate crystals, LiB₃O₅, CsLiB₆O₁₀, and CsB₃O₅, which all contain the identical basic structural unit [the (B₃O₇)^5- group], have been quantitatively studied from the chemical-bond viewpoint. Differences in the nonlinear optical properties among these three borate crystals arise from the contributions of the different cations, i.e., the different interaction between the cation and the (B₃O₇)^5- anionic group. The chemical-bond method quantitatively expresses this important difference. At the same time, the current calculation also shows that the B₃O₇ group is a very important crystallographic frame in the crystalline borate solids; it offers different cations an excellent coordination environment. Received: 20 February 2001 / Accepted: 14 June 2001 / Published online: 30 August 2001     

Rapidly swept, continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy with optical heterodyne detection: single- and multi-wavelength sensing of gases

Spectroscopic sensing of gases can be performed with high sensitivity and photometric precision by cavity ringdown (CRD) absorption spectroscopy. Our cavity ringdown spectrometer incorporates continuous-wave (cw) tunable diode lasers, fibre-optic coupling and standard photonics and optical telecommunications components. It comprises a rapidly swept optical cavity in a single-ended optical heterodyne transmitter–receiver configuration, enabling optical absorption of gases to be recorded either as single-frequency scanned spectra or as simultaneous, multi-wavelength tailored spectra. By measuring weak near-infrared rovibrational spectra of carbon dioxide gas (CO₂), with high resolution in the vicinity of 1.53 μm, we have realised a noise-limited absorption sensitivity of 2.5×10^-9 cm^-1 Hz^-1/2. Analytical sensitivity limits (both actual and projected) and prospective gas-diagnostic applications are discussed. Our approach to cw-CRD spectroscopy offers high performance in a relatively simple, low-cost, compact instrument that is amenable to chemical analysis of trace gases in medical, agricultural, industrial and environmental situations. Received: 16 May 2002 / Revised version: 3 June 2002 / Published online: 21 August 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +61-2/9850-8313, E-mail: brian.orr@mq.edu.au     

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     

Ion synthesis and laser annealing of Cu nanoparticles in Al2O3

Al₂O₃ samples with Cu nanoparticles, synthesised by ion implantation at 40 keV with a dose of 1×10¹⁷ ion/cm² and a current density from 2.5 to 12.5 μA/cm², were annealed using ten pulses from a KrF excimer laser with a single pulse fluence of 0.3 J/cm². The copper depth distribution, formation and modification of metal nanoparticles under the ion implantation and laser treatment were studied by Rutherford backscattering (RBS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical spectroscopy. It was found that laser annealing leads to a reduction in the nanoparticle size without diffusion of metal atoms into the bulk. The change in particle size and the possibility for oxidation of the copper particles are examined in the framework of Mie theory. Calculations presented show that under excimer laser treatment, Cu nanoparticles are more likely to be reduced in size than to undergo oxidation. Received: 19 April 2001 / Accepted: 7 November 2001 / Published online: 23 January 2002     

Amorphization and grain size effect on milled PbTiO3 studied by Raman scattering and visible photoluminescence emission

Raman scattering and photoluminescence (PL) studies on milled PbTiO₃ are presented in this paper. The results suggest that the visible PL emission could be related to both the localized states in the interface between the amorphous layer and the crystalline core and the amorphous layer itself. The Raman spectrum of PbTiO₃ milled for a long time showed the vibrational density of states, and a detailed analysis of the soft mode allowed us to conclude that the PbTiO₃ crystalline core did not experience any structural phasetransition. Received: 2 February 2001 / Accepted: 23 July 2001 / Published online: 17 October 2001     

Dispersion of second-order nonlinear optical coefficient

A simple, approximate relation between the dispersion of the second-order nonlinear optical (SNLO) coefficient and first-order susceptibility has been derived using the well-known results of density-matrix calculation of quantum-mechanical theory. A new tensor of SNLO coefficient has been defined, which retains symmetries when the input beams are in the spectral range of transparency while the generated beam can also be in the spectral range of absorption. The validity of the relation has been checked for three ferroelectric crystals, KTP, LiNbO₃ and KNbO₃, which are transparent in the visible and near infrared, and for two semiconductors, GaP and GaAs, which absorb in the visible. Contrary to Miller’s law, the presented relation is in good agreement with measurements. Received: 8 February 2001 / Revised version: 2 July 2001 / Published online: 10 October 2001     

Efficient intracavity second-harmonic generation at 1.06 μm in a BiB3O6 (BIBO) crystal

We report, for the first time, efficient intracavity second-harmonic generation (SHG) at 1.06 μm in a non-linear optical crystal, BiB₃O₆ (BIBO), at a type-I phase-matching direction of (θ,ϕ)=(168.9°,90°), performed with a LD end-pumped cw Nd:YVO₄ laser. A cw SHG output power of 364 mW has been obtained using a 1.9-mm-thick BIBO crystal. The optical conversion efficiency was 12.2% and the corresponding effective intracavity SHG efficiency was determined to be 32.4%. It was found that the intracavity SHG efficiency is greater than that obtained with a type-II phase-matching KTiOPO₄ (KTP) crystal with a thickness of 3 mm. The effective non-linear optical coefficient (d_eff) ratio of BIBO to that of KTP, determined experimentally, is 1.23:1. Received: 7 May 2001 / Revised version: 6 July 2001 / Published online: 19 September 2001     

Vertically and laterally waveguide-coupled cylindrical microresonators in Si3N4 on SiO2 technology

High-finesse laterally and vertically waveguide-coupled cylindrical microresonators have been designed and realized in Si₃N₄ on SiO₂ technology using conventional optical lithography. Based on the experimental results and detailed simulations, a comparison between the lateral and vertical coupling schemes is made. Received: 16 May 2001 / Revised version: 13 August 2001 / Published online: 2 November 2001     

Second-order optical non-linearity of proton exchanged lithium tantalate waveguides

A detailed correlation between the fabrication conditions, crystallographic phase state of H_xLi_1-xTaO₃ waveguides and second-order optical non-linearity has been investigated by using reflected SHG measurements from the polished waveguide end face. The non-linearity, strongly reduced after the initial proton exchange, is found to be restored and even increased after annealing. However, this apparent increase in the non-linearity is accompanied by a strong degradation of the quality of the SHG reflected beam in the region of the initial as-exchanged waveguide due to beam scattering. The high temperature proton exchange technique has been shown to produce high-quality α-phase waveguides with essentially undegraded non-linear optical properties. There is no phase transition when the α-phase waveguides are fabricated by direct exchange. This phase presents the same crystalline structure as that of LiTaO₃ and maintains the excellent non-linear properties of the bulk material. The results obtained are important for the design, fabrication and optimization of guided-wave non-linear optical devices in LiTaO₃. Received: 21 May 2001 / Published online: 23 October 2001     

The characterization of plasma-polymerized C60 thin films

Plasma-polymerized C₆₀ thin films were investigated in the form of a field effect transistor (FET) structure. In the FET device, the C₆₀ polymer acts as a p-type semiconductor, whereas C₆₀ is an n-type semiconductor. Its conduction mechanism can be described as due to variable range hopping. As a sensing device, the C₆₀ polymer can behave as a gas sensor for electrophoric gases and can also be operated as a photo-sensing device in air. Received: 21 April 2001 / Accepted: 23 July 2001 / Published online: 2 October 2001     

Growth and characterization of cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet single crystals for magneto-optical applications

This paper is concerned with the preparation and characterization of cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnets, which are known to be oxides having a large Faraday rotation effect. Using the improved flux method we successfully grew bulk single crystals of iron garnet doped with Ce³⁺ ions with maximum substitutions up to 0.349. Here we investigate different solution compositions for maximum Ce³⁺ substitution. The Faraday rotation and optical absorption spectra were measured in the near infrared region for different Ce³⁺ ion substituted iron garnets. The specific Faraday rotation of Ce_0.349Eu_0.195Y_2.456Fe₅O₁₂ was found to be 1430 deg/cm at a wavelength of 780 nm and –1280 deg/cm at 1150 nm. The Ce substitution prominently enhances the Faraday rotation effect, and Yb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions substituted for Y³⁺ in the dodecahedral sites of YIG can increase the concentration of Ce³⁺ ions, depressing the formation of nonmagnetic Ce⁴⁺ ions by charge compensation. Received: 24 January 2001 / Accepted: 2 March 2001 / Published online: 27 June 2001     

Theoretical and experimental aspects of optical storage of information via refreshing by inverse seeding in a photorefractive Ba0.77Ca0.23TiO3 crystal (BCT)

We present a new experimental setup for the optical storage of information via refreshing by inverse seeding (OSIRIS), which allows a sixfold increase of the storage time of holograms in a Ba_0.77Ca_0.23TiO₃ crystal (BCT). The setup consists of two four-wave mixing processes with common amplified signal waves and phase-conjugated (pc) waves. Temporal behaviours of the amplified and pc signal waves for the OSIRIS experiment as well as for the common four-wave mixing experiment are compared and discussed. The solutions of coupled equations under the depleted-pump approximation are obtained in order to estimate the pc reflectivities and coupling gains of gratings inside the crystal. Received: 13 December 2000 / Revised version: 26 January 2001 / Published online: 27 April 2001     

Reverse saturable absorption of a novel rhodamine-B cation fulleride salt at 532 nm

A novel rhodamine-B cation fulleride salt was synthesized by metathetical reaction. Its tetrahydrofuran solution was prepared and the fluence-dependent transmission was measured with 10-ns 532-nm laser pulses in a collimated optical setup. With increases in the input fluence, its transmittance decreased significantly, which indicated reverse saturable absorption behavior. For comparison, the input fluence-dependent transmittance of fullerene C₆₀ and rhodamine-B solution were also measured. The nonlinear optical limiting effect of the fulleride salt in tetrahydrofuran is slightly lower than that of C₆₀ in toluene and the explanations are provided. Received: 25 August 2000 / Accepted: 6 November 2000 / Published online: 3 April 2001     

Mixture of ultracold lithium and cesium atoms in an optical dipole trap

We present the first simultaneous trapping of two different ultracold atomic species in a conservative trap. Lithium and cesium atoms are stored in an optical dipole trap formed by the focus of a CO₂ laser. Techniques for loading both species of atoms are discussed and observations of elastic and inelastic collisions between the two species are presented. A model for sympathetic cooling of two species with strongly different mass in the presence of slow evaporation is developed. From the observed Cs-induced evaporation of Li atoms we estimate a cross-section for cold elastic Li-Cs collisions. Received: 1 August 2001 / Published online: 23 November 2001