Narrow resonances of two-photon absorption of super-narrow pulses in a gas

First cw laser oscillation with thresholds below 1 mW was observed for various B¹П_u → X¹ ∑ _g ⁺ transitions of diatomic molecular sodium excited by different argon laser lines in the range of 454–488 nm. For pump powers of 0.5 W output powers up to 3 mW and single-pass gain up to 0.1 cm⁻¹ were obtained. Some properties of the heat pipe laser system are discussed.     

A comparative study of continuous laser operation on the F3/2-I9/2 transitions of Nd:GdVO4 and Nd:YVO4 crystals

A comparative study of Nd:GdVO₄ and Nd:YVO₄ crystal lasers pumped by a fiber-coupled diode array has been conducted at the ⁴F_3/2-⁴I_9/2 transitions wavelengths of 912 nm and 914 nm, as well as when intracavity frequency-doubled to 456 nm and 457 nm, respectively. At the fundamental wavelength of 912 nm and second harmonic wavelength of 456 nm, maximum output powers from the Nd:GdVO₄ crystal laser were 7.85 W and 4.6 W at a pump power of 29 W. All the results obtained from Nd:GdVO₄ were superior to those of Nd:YVO₄, indicating that Nd:GdVO₄ is a more efficient laser crystal than Nd:YVO₄ for laser operation on the ⁴F_3/2-⁴I_9/2 transitions.     

Laser-ionization mass-spectrometric studies on laser ablation of a nitrogen-rich polymer at 532 nm and 1064 nm

Laser-ionization Time-Of-Flight (TOF) mass-spectrometric studies have been carried out on the 532 nm and 1064 nm laser ablation products from a nitrogen-rich polymer. The polymer used had an elemental composition of C_6.0N_8.9H_3.4 and consisted of C=N, C-N, and N-H chemical bonds. The TOF mass spectra observed were composed of various peaks (150 amu) depending on the ablation laser wavelength. The primary peaks were assigned to C⁺, CN⁺, CHnN⁺ ₂ (n=1–3) and C₂H₂N⁺ ₃ for 532 nm ablation, and C⁺, C⁺ ₃, HCN⁺, HCCN⁺, CH₂NH⁺, HNCN⁺, H₃NCN⁺, and C₄H₄N⁺ ₇ for 1064 nm ablation. The flight velocity distributions with peak velocities ranging from 8.6×10³ cm/s to 3.8×10⁴ cm/s were measured for these products. The distinct velocity distributions observed between small and large products indicate the presence of two origins in the fragment ejection process from the polymer for both 532 nm and 1064 nm ablation. Furthermore, we suggest an importance of the translational energy of the fragments for the product generation in the laser plume.     

Transversely pumped laser using F 3 + and F2 mixed color centers in a LiF crystal at room temperature

A stable laser with F₃⁺ and F₂ mixed color centers in LiF crystal is constructed using a transversely pumped cavity at room temperature. The mixed color center laser is pumped with a nitrogen-laser-pumped dye laser. A pulse output of the laser is 0.23 mJ. The pulse widths of the F₃⁺ and F₂ color center lasers are about 12 and 8.5 ns, respectively. The optical–optical conversion efficiency is about 5.0%. The divergence of the F₃⁺ color center laser beam is about 2.2 mrad and that of the F₂ color center laser beam about 3.5 mrad. The polarization of the mixed color center laser is about 0.97. The output of the F₃⁺ color center laser extends from 515 to 575 nm and peaks at 540 nm, while that of the F₂ color center laser extends from 633 to 705 nm and peaks at 667 nm.     

Narrow-band UV radiation (250–260 nm) from intracavity doubling a single-mode ring dye laser

Generation of continuous-wave, tunable UV radiation (250–260 nm) by intracavity doubling a coumarin-515 ring dye laser is described. A cooled (200–280 K) ADP crystal with end faces cut at Brester's angle is placed inside the laser ring cavity which has been compensated for astigmatism and coma. UV output powers at 254 nm of 120 μW and 60 μW are achieved with the laser operating multimode (bandwidth ? 20 GHz) and single-mode (bandwidth ? 50 MHz), respectively. Continuous single-mode scans over the 253.7 nm mercury profile demonstrate sub-Doppler resolution of the Hg 6s6p ³P^O₁ - 6s²¹S₀ transition.     

Improved lasing properties of the HêN 2 + system at 391 nm and 428 nm by H2 admixture

The He/N₂ system lasing on the N ₂ ⁺ (B)N ₂ ⁺ (X, 0) transition at 391 nm and on the N ₂ ⁺ (B)N ₂ ⁺ (X, 1) transition at 428 nm was investigated by e-beam excitation. By adding H₂ the lower laser state is efficiently quenched, which leads to a drastic improvement of the laser properties. A kinetic model is proposed which accounts for the experimental results. For a laser amplifier operated at 5 bar total efficiencies of 0.6% and 0.7% are predicted for the 391 nm and the 428 nm transitions respectively.     

Efficient Continuous Wave-laser emission of Pr3+-doped fluorides at room temperature

We report, to our knowledge for the first time, Continuous Wave (CW) laser emission at room temperature of Pr:LiYF₄ (Pr.YLF) at six wavelengths: 522, 545, 607, 639.5, 720 and 907.4 nm. The pump source was an argon-ion laser tuned to a wavelength of = 457.9 nm. The maximum output powers at 522 nm (³P_i ³H₅) and 639.5 nm (³P₀ ³F₂) were 144 and 266 mW, respectively. We also observed CW laser action of Pr:GdLiF₄ (Pr: GLF) at = 639 nm and of Pr:KYF₄ (Pr: KYF) at = 642.5 nm.     

Optical properties of La2O3 doped diamond-like carbon films

A novel kind of La₂O₃ doped diamond-like carbon (DLC) films with thickness of 100-120 nm were deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering. Raman spectra and photoluminescence properties were measured by Raman spectrometer operated by 325 nm He-Cd laser and 514 nm Ar⁺ laser, respectively. The intensities of Raman spectra and photoluminescence are higher than those of pure DLC films. The La₂O₃ doped DLC films have the potential promising for the application of solar cell coatings.     

Study of the plasmas produced during the deposition of TiC/SiC thin films in a hybrid magnetron-laser system

Time- and spatially-resolved optical emission spectroscopy was performed to characterize the plasma produced in a hybrid magnetron-sputtering-laser deposition system, which is used for TiC or SiC thin films preparation. A graphite target was ablated by a KrF excimer laser (λ=248 nm,τ=20 ns) and either Ti or Si targets were used for DC magnetron sputtering in argon ambient. Spectra were measured in the range 250–850 nm. The evolution of the spectra with varying magnetron powers (0–100 W) and argon pressures (0.3–10 Pa) was studied. Spectra of the plasmas produced by a) the magnetron alone, b) the ablation laser alone, and c) the magnetron and the ablation laser together, were recorded. Spectra (a) were dominated by Ar atoms and Ar⁺ ions. Emission lines of Ti and Si were detected, when Ti target and Si target was used, respectively. Spectra (b) revealed emission of C, C⁺, C₂, Ar, Ar⁺. Spectra (c) showed presence of all previously mentioned species and further of Ti⁺ ions emission was detected. The research was supported by Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 202/06/02161, GA ASCR project number A1010110/01 and Institutional Research Plan AV CR No. AV0Z 10100522.     

Laser-diode-excited Blue Upconversion in Tm3+/Yb3+-codoped TeO2-Ga2O3-R2O (R=Li, Na, K) Glasses

This paper reports on intense blue upconversion in Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ codoped TeO₂-Ga₂O₃-R₂O(R=Li, Na, K) glasses upon excitation with commercial available laser diode (LD). Effects of alkali ions on the Raman spectra, thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of the tellurite-gallium glasses have also been investigated. Energy transfer and the involved upconversion mechanisms have been discussed. Intense blue upconversion emission centered at 476 nm along with a weak red emission at 650 nm has been observed upon excitation of 977 nm LD, assigned to the transitions of , and and/or of Tm³⁺, respectively. The blue upconversion intensity has a cubelike dependence on incident pump laser power, indicating a three-photon process. However, a quadratic dependence of the 476 nm upconversion intensity on the incident pump laser power has been observed when samples under excitation of 808 nm LD due to a two-photon absorption process. Enhanced upconversion luminescence have been observed with replacing K⁺ for Na⁺ and Li⁺.     

Excitation power controlled luminescence switching in Yb-Tm co-doped hexagonal NaYF4 nanorods

Intense infrared-to-visible up-conversion (UC) emissions were obtained in hexagonal Yb³⁺-Tm³⁺ co-doped NaYF₄ nanorods under excitation at 980 nm. Especially, luminescent switching between different UC emission wavelengths at 800, 480 and 450 nm were observed by adjusting excitation powers. Based on power-dependent spectral analyses, it was found that the cooperative energy transfer between Yb³⁺-Yb³⁺ pairs and Tm³⁺ ions play a key role on the luminescent switching besides the saturation effect of Yb³⁺²F_5/2 and Tm³⁺¹G₄ excited states. Our results indicate that hexagonal NaYF₄ nanostructures have potential applications in miniaturized solid-state laser, optical processing sensors and fluorescent biolabels.     

共掺Na+的Yb3+∶CaF2晶体的荧光分析与低阈值激光运转

基于975nm激发的室温下荧光光谱测量，系统地研究了在新型钠、镱共掺的氟化钙晶体中钠离子的作用机理，分析了掺钠离子浓度与激光阈值的关系，获得了具有最低激光阈值的掺杂浓度优化配比. 激光实验表明对于2%Yb³⁺离子浓度的氟化钙，掺入3%的钠离子能够获得最低阈值的激光运转，这与理论和荧光分析完全一致. 关键词： 镱、钠共掺氟化钙 荧光光谱 激光阈值     

Charge compensation on the luminescence properties of ZnWO4:Tb phosphors via hydrothermal synthesis

A phosphor Tb³⁺-doped ZnWO₄ (ZWO:Tb) phosphors were prepared by a hydrothermal method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the as-obtained sample is pure ZnWO₄ phase. The excitation and emission spectra indicated that the phosphor could be well excited by ultraviolet light (272 nm) and emit blue light at about 491 nm and green light at about 545 nm. Significant energy transfer from WO₄²⁻ groups to Tb³⁺ ions has been observed. Two approaches to charge compensation are investigated: (a) 2Zn²⁺ = Tb³⁺ + M⁺, where M⁺ is a monovalent cation like Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ acting as a charge compensator; (b) 3Zn²⁺ = 2Tb³⁺ + vacancy. Compared with two charge compensation patterns in the ZnWO₄:Tb³⁺, it has been found that ZnWO₄:Tb³⁺ phosphors used Li⁺ as charge compensation show greatly enhanced bluish-green emission under 272 nm excitation.     

Shorter dye laser wavelengths from substitutedp-terphenyls

The spectral and laser characteristics of 14 CH₃-, CF₃-, and F-substitutedp-terphenyls have been investigated. 2,2″-dimethyl-p-terphenyl in cyclohexane solution exhibits a shortest tuned laser wavelength of 311.2 nm, thus extending the range of dye laser emission by 1000 cm⁻¹ in the uv. Peak output powers of 1.5 MW and 14% conversion efficiency at 332 nm were obtained under KrF-laser pumping in an untuned cavity.     

Upconversion CW laser at 284 nm in a Nd:YAG-pumped double-cladding thulium-doped ZBLAN fiber laser

A successful continuous-wave (CW) ultraviolet (UV) laser in a Tm⁺³-doped ZBLAN fiber, operated at 284 nm (¹ I ₆ → ³ H ₆ transition of Tm⁺³) is demonstrated. The excitation uses a four-step upconversion scheme. The pump source is a Nd:YAG laser operated at 1.064 μm. A laser output power of 42 μW continuous wave was obtained for 590 mW of the launched pump power. The slope efficiency with respect to the launched pump power was measured to be 9%. Ultraviolet (at 365 nm) and visible (at 453 and 480 nm) radiation was also observed.     

Feasibility study of laser cooling of InF molecule

By employing ab initio quantum chemistry method, we investigate the feasibility of laser cooling InF molecule. Four low-lying electronic states (X¹Σ⁺, C¹Π, ³Π and 2³Π) of InF have been calculated using the multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) method. The spin-orbit coupling effects are also taken into account in the electronic structure computation at the MRCI level. The highly diagonal Franck-Condon factors for C¹Π → X¹Σ⁺ transitions are estimated. The radiative lifetime of the C¹Π (v′ = 0) state is about 2.22 ns, which is found to be enough short for rapid laser cooling. Though the cooling wavelength of InF is located in the short-wavelength ultraviolet light (UVC), a frequency quadrupled Ti: sapphire laser (189–235 nm) could be capable of generating laser transition wavelength of InF. Furthermore, the C¹Π → X¹Σ⁺ transitions perhaps can be followed by the B³Π₁ → X¹Σ⁺_0⁺ transitions to attain a lower Doppler temperature. Meanwhile, for achieving quasi-closed transition cycle of InF molecule, we investigate the hyperfine structure of the lowest state X¹Σ⁺. Overall, the present results indicate the possibility of laser cooling InF molecules.     

Kinetic ion-acoustic solitary waves in collisional plasmas

In this study, a bipolar high-voltage pulse with 20 ns rising time is employed to generate diffuse dielectric barrier discharge plasma using wire-plate electrode configuration in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The gas temperature of the plasma is determined by comparing the experimental and the best fitted optical emission spectra of the second positive bands of N₂(C³Π_u → B³ Π_g, 0-2) and the first negative bands of N₂ ⁺ (B² Σ_u ⁺ → X² Σ_g ⁺, 0-0). The effects of the concentration of argon and oxygen on the emission intensities of N₂ (C³Π_u → B³Π_g, 0-0, 337.1 nm), OH?(A ²Σ → X²Π, 0-0) and N₂ ⁺ (B² Σ_u ⁺ → X² Σ_g ⁺, 0-0, 391.4 nm) are investigated. It is shown that the plasma gas temperature keeps almost constant with the pulse repetition rate and pulse peak voltage increasing. The emission intensities of N₂ (C³Π_u → B³Π_g, 0-0, 337.1 nm), OH(A²Σ → X²Π, 0-0) and N₂ ⁺ (B² Σ_u ⁺ → X² Σ_g ⁺, 0-0, 391.4 nm) rise with increasing the concentration of argon, but decrease with increasing the concentration of oxygen, and the influences of oxygen concentration on the emission intensities of N₂(C³Π_u → B³Π_g, 0-0, 337.1 nm) and OH (A²Σ → X²Π, 0-0) are more greater than that on the emission intensity of N₂ ⁺ (B² Σ_u ⁺ → X² Σ_g ⁺, 0-0, 391.4 nm).     

Tunable room-temperature laser action of Cr4+-doped Y3ScxAl5−xO12

A new class of tunable room-temperature Cr⁴⁺ lasers is presented: Cr⁴+-doped Y₃Sc_xAl_5–xO₁₂ garnets. With increasing scandium content the emission shifts to longer wavelengths due to the weakening of the crystal field. Free running laser wavelengths are 1440, 1498, 1548 and 1584 nm for x = 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5, respectively. Continuous tunability is obtained from 1309 to 1628 nm.     

Diode-pumped colour-centre lasers tunable in the 1.5 µm range

Under pumping with a 990 nm, 1 W laser diode, continuous-wave (cw) tunable laser emission in the 1.5 µm wavelength range was obtained from two different colour centres: Tl⁰(1) in NaCl:Tl⁺ and (F ₂ ⁺ )_H in NaCl:OH^–. The results are compared to those recently obtained with a similar apparatus and Tl⁰(1) centres in KCl:Tl⁺. The highest output power (30 mW) and the broadest tuning range (1.48–1.68 µm) were achieved with (F ₂ ⁺ )_H centres.