Fast path and polarization manipulation of telecom wavelength single photons in lithium niobate waveguide devices

We demonstrate fast polarization and path control of photons at 1550?nm in lithium niobate waveguide devices using the electro-optic effect. We show heralded single photon state engineering, quantum interference, fast state preparation of two entangled photons, and feedback control of quantum interference. These results point the way to a single platform that will enable the integration of nonlinear single photon sources and fast reconfigurable circuits for future photonic quantum information science and technology.     

Temperature and wavelength dependent trap filling in M2Si5N8:Eu (M=Ca,Sr, Ba) persistent phosphors

The evaluation of persistent phosphors is often focused on the processes right after the excitation, namely on the shape of the afterglow decay curve and the duration of the afterglow, in combination with thermoluminescence glow curve analysis. In this paper we study in detail the trap filling process in europium-doped alkaline earth silicon nitrides (Ca₂Si₅N₈:Eu, Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu and Ba₂Si₅N₈:Eu), i.e., how the persistent luminescence can be induced. Both the temperature at which the phosphors are excited and the spectral distribution of the excitation light on the ability to store energy in the phosphors' lattices are investigated. We show that for these phosphors this storage process is thermally activated upon excitation in the lower 5d excited states of Eu²⁺, with the lowest thermal barrier for europium doped Ca₂Si₅N₈. Also, the influence of co-doping with thulium on the trap filling and afterglow behavior is studied. Finally there exists a clear relation between the luminescence quenching temperature and the trap filling efficiency. The latter relation can be utilized to select new efficient 5d–4f based afterglow phosphors.     

Overlapping B3Π0u ← X1Σ g/+ and 1Π1u ← X1Σ g/+ non-radiative characteristic of Br2 vapour in the wavelength region 505–541 nm

The vibronic vapour phase photoacoustic spectrum of Br₂ in the wavelength region 505–541 nm (19796–18480 cm⁻¹) has been recorded using microphone as well as pump-probe method. Discrete vibronic bands superimposed on a monotonically increasing continuum background towards the dissociation limit results from the overlapping B ³Π _0u ^/+ ← X ¹Σ _g ^/+ and ¹Π_1u ← X ¹Σ _g ^/+ electronic transitions. Vibronic bands originating from υ″=0 have been used to estimate the relative rate of non-radiative relaxation as a function of the excited state B ³Π_0u vibrational quantum number υ′. A comparison with the optical absorption spectroscopy of Br₂ leads to the identification of three broad spectral regions between 505 and 541 nm (19796 and 18480 cm⁻¹) on the basis of different non-radiative relaxation processes.     

Non-proportional response of scintillation crystals to X-rays and γ-rays

Data are presented on the relative photon yield of Lu₂SiO₅(Ce³⁺), Cd₂SiO₅(Ce³⁺), CdWO₄, BaF₂, YAlO₃(Ce³⁺) and Lu₃Al₅O₁₂(Sc³⁺) scintillation of crystals on absorption of X-ray and γ-ray photons at energies ranging from 5 keV to beyond 1 MeV.     

Radioluminescence of Lu2O3:Eu nanocrystalline powder and vacuum-sintered ceramic

Nanocrystalline powders of Lu₂O₃:Eu with the activator content varying in the range of 0.2–10% were prepared through a combustion technique. The powders were only slightly agglomerated and the size of crystallites were about 30 nm. Some of the powders were co-doped with Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, La of various concentrations. Such powders were cold-pressed and sintered at 1750°C for 5 h in vacuum. X-ray-excited luminescence spectra of both the powders and the sintered ceramics were recorded and the efficiency was compared to the commercial standard Gd₂O₂S:Pr,Ce,F X-ray phosphor. It was found that the nanocrystalline powders of Lu₂O₃:Eu,Ca emit photons four-times less than the commercial micron-sized Gd₂O₂S:Pr,Ce,F powder. In the case of sintered materials the emission efficiency from our Lu₂O₃:Eu5%, Ca was roughly equal to the efficiency of the commercial-sintered Gd₂O₂S:Pr,Ce,F. The co-doping ions were shown to have various effects on the transparency of the sintered Lu₂O₃:Eu. Mg hindered the sintering process producing completely opaque pellets. Other ions facilitated the sintering course and the best results were obtained by co-doping the samples with 0.5% of Ba. Sr and La also significantly stimulated the sintering and the final pellets were only slightly cloudy.     

Luminescence properties of LiPrxCe1−xP4O12

LiPr_1−xCe_xP₄O₁₂ (x=0, 0.002, 0.02; 0.1) powder samples were prepared using the melt solution technique. Luminescent parameters of LiPr_1−xCe_xP₄O₁₂ phosphors have been investigated under ultraviolet-vacuum ultraviolet (3-12 eV) synchrotron radiation and X-rays excitation at room and near liquid He temperatures. Excitation luminescence spectra of Ce³⁺ emission, luminescent spectra and decay curves from the lower excited state levels of the 4f¹5d¹ and 5d¹ electronic configuration of the Pr³⁺ and Ce³⁺, respectively, clearly indicate energy transfer from Pr³⁺ to Ce³⁺. Energy migration proceeds via the Pr-sublattice followed by nonradiation transfer from Pr³⁺ to Ce³⁺ ions.     

Charge transfer transitions in the transition metal oxides ABO4:Ln and APO4:ln (A=La, Gd, Y, Lu, Sc; B=V, Nb, Ta; Ln=lanthanide)

We have compiled and analyzed optical and structural properties of lanthanide doped non-metal oxides of the form APO₄:Ln³⁺ with A a rare earth and of transition metal oxides with formula ABO₄:Ln³⁺ with B a transition metal. The main objective is to understand better the interrelationships between the band gap energy, the O²⁻→Ln³⁺ charge transfer energy, and the Ln³⁺→B⁵⁺ inter-valence charge transfer energy. Various models exist for each of these three types of electron transitions in inorganic compounds that appear highly related to each other. When properly interpreted, these optically excited transitions provide the locations of the lanthanide electron donating and electron accepting states relative to the conduction band and the valence band of the hosting compound. These locations in turn determine the luminescent properties and charge carrier trapping properties of that host. Hence, understanding the relationship between the different types of charge transfer processes and its implication for lanthanide level location in the band gap is of technological interest.     

Efficient VUV sensitization of Eu3+ emission by Tb3+ in potassium rare‐earth double phosphate

The luminescence properties of K₃Tb(PO₄)₂ activated by Eu³⁺ were studied at excitation over the 120–300 nm wavelength range. It is demonstrated that Tb³⁺ ions, exhibiting a strong absorption band in the vacuum‐ultraviolet (VUV), can provide efficient sensitisation of Eu³⁺ emission in this wave length range, giving rise to intense red luminescence at 150 nm excitation. A proof is given for the concept of VUV sensitisation enabling the engineering of luminescence materials with enhanced conversion efficiency of VUV radiation into visible light. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

LiBaF3 as a thermal neutron scintillator

We report on the scintillation properties of LiBaF₃ upon irradiation with thermal neutrons. For thermal neutron excitation cross luminescence is not observed, contrary to luminescence under X-ray or γ-ray excitation.