Room-temperature laser action at 4.34.4 mum in CaGa(2)S(4):Dy(3+)

We report room-temperature mid-IR laser operation in a new low-phonon-frequency nonhygroscopic host crystal, calcium thiogallate (CaGa(2)S(4)) . Laser action at 4.314.38 mum on the Dy(3+)H(11/2)(6)?H(13/2)(6) transition occurred with a maximum slope efficiency of 1.6%.     

Microstructure of thermoelectric (Bi0.15Sb0.85)2Te3 film

The film of thermoelectric ternary p-type (Bi_0.15Sb_0.85)₂Te₃ was deposited on polyimide foil substrate at 168 °C using direct-current magnetron sputtering. Microstructural investigations of the film were performed by electron microscopy techniques. SEM observations showed that the film surface consisted of large-sized particulates with small-sized particles and also mound-like crystal agglomerates in some areas. Chemical composition of the film was analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). It has been observed that the EDS results were in an agreement with nominal composition for the film. Detailed microstructural investigations were carried out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM images and selected area electron diffraction patterns showed that the film has randomly oriented polycrystalline grain structure. High-resolution TEM images indicated that the microstructure of film also contained nano-crystal structure, smaller than 10 nm.     

Continuous-wave room-temperature laser oscillation of Cr(3+):MgO

Continuous-wave laser oscillation of Cr(3+):MgO at room temperature was realized under argon-ion laser pumping at 476 and 514 nm. The free-running laser wavelength was 840 nm, and with different mirror sets laser oscillation at 824, 830, 870, and 878 nm was also realized. With different crystals a maximum output power of 48 mW and a lowest threshold with respect to the absorbed pump power of 80 mW were realized. The slope efficiencies with respect to the absorbed pump power were as high as 2.3%. No thermal effects were observed for absorbed pump powers as great as 2.7 W.     

Mode-locked Cr(2+):ZnSe laser

We describe active mode locking of a Cr(2+):ZnSe laser operating near 2.5 mum. The laser produces 4.4-ps transform-limited Gaussian-shaped pulses and produces 82 mW of average power.     

熔体旋甩法合成n型(Bi_(0.85)Sb_(0.15))_2(Te_(1-x)Se_x)_3化合物的微结构及热电性能

采用熔体旋甩结合放电等离子烧结(MS-SPS)技术制备了单相n型四元(Bi0.85Sb0.15)2(Te1-xSex)3(x=0.15,0.17,0.19,0.21)化合物,并对所得样品的微结构和热电传输性能进行了系统研究.样品自由断裂面的场发射扫描电子显微镜及抛光面的背散射电子成分分析表明:块体材料晶粒细小,晶粒排列紧密,成分分布均匀且相结构单一,样品中存在大量10—100nm的层状结构.随着Se含量x的增加,样品的电导率和热导率逐渐增加,而Seebeck系数逐渐降低.相比商业应用的区熔材料,MS-SPS方法合成的高Se组成的样品均在425K后表现出更高的ZT值,其中(Bi0.85Sb0.15)2(Te0.83Se0.17)3样品具有最高的ZT值,在360K可达到0.96,并在320—500K均保持较高的ZT值,500K时其ZT值相比区熔材料提高了48%.此外,通过调节Se的含量,可以有效地调控材料的ZT峰值出现的温度段,这对多级或梯度热电器件的制备具有重要意义.     

Magnetic Properties of the Mechanically Alloyed (Fe0.85Mn0.15)0.3Cu0.7 System

Samples of nominal composition (Fe_0.85Mn_0.15)_0.3Cu_0.7 were prepared by mechanical milling starting from pure element powders. In order to elucidate the effect of the alloying time upon the magnetic properties of the system, milling times ranging from 1 hour up to 72 hours were considered. The phase distribution present on the as-milled materials was identified from the analysis of X-ray diffraction data. The room temperature magnetic properties of the samples were studied by means of ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry, whereas their low temperature magnetic behavior was characterized through magnetic susceptibility measurements. The results evidenced a strong dependence of the magnetic properties on the milling time and, concretely, the occurrence of a superparamagnetic behavior in the long-time-milled samples for which an extended solid solution was obtained. This fact is attributable both to the obtained crystallite sizes, which resulted to be of the order of a few nanometers, and to a milling-driven increase of the lattice parameter.     

Broadly tunable compact continuous-wave Cr(2+):ZnS laser

We report the development of a continuous-wave, room-temperature Cr(2+) ZnS laser that is compact and tunable over 700 nm. The laser is pumped by a diode-pumped Er-fiber laser and generates 0.7 W of linearly polarized radiation at 2.35microm , at up to 40% slope efficiency. Cr(2+) ZnS directly diode-pumped at 1.6microm yields polarized radiation that is tunable over 400 nm at up to 25 mW of output power. A comparison of Cr(2+) ZnS with Cr ZnSe (70 mW, 350 nm) in a similar setup is given. As opposed to Cr ZnSe, the Cr ZnS laser is intrinsically polarized. Finally, we observe sensitization of the output radiation by a few milliwatts of the visible (470-500-nm) and near-infrared (740-770-nm) radiation.     

Direct diode-pumped continuous-wave near-inf rared tunable laser operation of Cr(4+):forsterite and Cr(4+):Ca(2)GeO(4)

Continuous-wave tunable laser operation of direct diode-pumped Cr(4+):Mg(2)SiO(4) (Cr:forsterite) and Cr(4+):Ca(2)GeO(4) (cunyite) crystal were demonstrated. Diode-pumped Cr:forsterite was tunable over the 1236-1300-nm spectral range. The maximum output of 10 mW was measured at 1260 nm for 640 mW of pump power absorbed by the crystal. Diode-pumped laser operation of cunyite was also demonstrated over the 1390-1475-nm range. Free-running 20-mW output was centered at 1410 nm.     

1.9- m and 2.0- m laser diode pumping of Cr(2+) :ZnSe and Cr(2+) :CdMnTe

Efficient diode pumping at wavelengths of 1.9 and 2.0microm of a Cr(2+): ZnSe laser with an output power of 105 mW and a slope efficiency of 35% with respect to the absorbed pump power is presented. In addition, Cr(2+): CdMnTe has been laser diode pumped as well as operated in the continuous-wave regime, to the best of our knowledge for the first time.     

Room-temperature 3.4- mum Dy:BaYb(2)F(8) laser

We have demonstrated a room-temperature laser on the (6)H(13/2) - (6)H(15/2) transition of Dy(3+) in Dy:BaYb(2)F(8) at 3.40 mum . A pulsed 1.3-microm Nd:YAG laser was used as the pump. Our measured spontaneous-emission spectrum for the (6)H(13/2) - (6)H(15/2) band indicates that this laser should be continuously tunable between 3.0 and 3.4 mum .     

NMR Evidence of Antiferromagnetic Spin Fluctuations in Nd_(0.85)Sr_(0.15)NiO_2

Despite the recent discovery of superconductivity in Nd_(1-x)Sr_xNiO_2 thin films,the absence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetism in their bulk materials remains a puzzle.Here we report the ~1H NMR measurements on powdered Nd_(0.85)Sr_(0.15)NiO_2 samples by taking advantage of the enriched proton concentration after hydrogen annealing.We find a large full width at half maximum of the spectrum,which keeps increasing with decreasing the temperature T and exhibits an upturn behavior at low temperatures.The spin-lattice relaxation rate ~1T_1~(-1) is strongly enhanced when lowering the temperature,developing a broad peak at about 40 K,then decreases following a spin-wave-like behavior ~1T_1~(-1) ∝ T~2 at lower temperatures.These results evidence a short-range glassy antiferromagnetic ordering of magnetic moments below 40 K and dominant antiferromagnetic fluctuations extending to much higher temperatures.Our findings reveal the strong electron correlations in bulk Nd_(0.8)5Sr_(0.15)NiO_2,and shed light on the mechanism of superconductivity observed in films of nickelates.     

Optically detected magnetic resonance of Mn-related excitations in (Cd,Mn)Te quantum wells

Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) was applied to reveal the exchange interaction effects between Mn²⁺ ions and confined holes in (Cd,Mn)Te quantum wells with 2D hole gas. Two anisotropic ODMR signals with different angular variations were found and ascribed to isolated manganese ions and to exchange-coupled complexes consisting of manganese and holes. It is shown that calculations on the basis of spin Hamiltonian for these systems are in agreement with the experimental data.     

Microphotoluminescence study of local temperature fluctuations in n-type (Cd,Mn)Te quantum well

Microphotoluminescence mapping measurements were performed in a magnetic field on a (Cd,Mn)Te quantum well, modulation n-doped with iodine at about 10¹⁰ cm⁻². Photoluminescence spectra contain neutral (X⁰) and negatively charged (X⁻) exciton lines. The Zeeman effect shows a significant role of heating of the Mn system even under lowest excitation densities. The effective temperature of the magnetic system exhibits strong fluctuations anticorrelated with the total intensity of PL signal. An interpretation of these fluctuations in terms of the influence of non-radiative recombination centers is proposed (in two alternative versions). Maps of the local X⁰/X⁻ intensity ratio indicate a minor role of electrostatic potential fluctuations.     

Spin density wave of itinerant heavy electrons in Ce(Ru0.85Rh0.15)2Si2

The magnetic properties of Ce(Ru_0.85Rh_0.15)₂Si₂ were studied by neutron scattering and measurements of magnetization, susceptibility, specific heat and thermal expansion as a function of temperature. We observe a crossover from a high temperature localized spin to a low temperature heavy electron state. Spin density wave (SDW) behavior appears in the heavy electron state below T_N = 5.5 K and the volume change due to spin quantum fluctuations associated with the SDW and the Kondo screening is reminiscent of moment-volume instabilities of the INVAR and anti-INVAR behavior of 3 d transition metal alloys.     

Two-element-cavity femtosecond Cr(4+):YAG laser operating at a 2.6-GHz repetition rate

A femtosecond Cr(4+):YAG laser with a simple two-element cavity was built. This laser typically attained a repetition rate of 2.64 GHz with a pulse width of 115 fs at a center wavelength of 1540 nm. Output pulses were characterized by second-harmonic generation frequency-resolved optical gating. Alignment of the two-element cavity for mode-locked operation was easy; moreover, the cavity structure has the potential to produce an even higher repetition rate because one can miniaturize it simply by shortening a gain medium length.     

Fabrication of CdMgTe/Cd(Mn)Te nanostructures with the application of high-resolution electron-beam lithography

In this work we report on fabrication of quantum wires and quantum point contacts from the modulation doped CdMgTe/Cd(Mn)Te structures, with the application of a high-resolution electron-beam lithography. We emphasize on methods which were not yet utilized for these substrate materials. In particular, we describe the so-called shallow-etching approach, which allows for the fabrication of quantum constrictions of a physical width down to 100 nm, which are characterized by the smoother confining potential as compared to the deep-etched devices. For that purpose, a single-line exposure mode of electron-beam lithography has been used. We demonstrate also, how to combine the etching of separating grooves with the thermal evaporation of metal side-gates into a single post-processing stage of a quantum point contact fabrication.This article is an expanded version of the scientific reports presented at the International Conference on Semiconductor Nanostructures for Optoelectronics and Biosensors 2016 ICSeNOB2016, May 22–25, 2016, Rzeszow, Poland.     

Relaxation dynamics of Mn2+ intraion excitation in Cd0.5Mn0.5Te: Dependence on the optical pumping level

A study is reported of the Mn²⁺ intracenter 3d luminescence in a dilute Cd_0.5Mn_0.5Te magnetic semiconductor at pulsed excitations of up to 3.5 MW/cm². At high excitation levels and at a temperature of 77 K, the kinetics varies strongly over the emission band profile. The luminescence decay curve can be resolved into a fast and a delayed component, which correspond to the excitation of extended and localized states in the manganese ion system. The fast relaxation of the extended states is largely determined by the up-conversion. As the temperature is lowered, the contribution of the fast component at the center of the emission band and in its low-energy wing decreases because of the weakening role of the extended states lying above the mobility edge.     

Reducing influence of antiferromagnetic interactions on ferromagnetic properties of p-(Cd,Mn)Te quantum wells

In order to explain the absence of hysteresis in ferromagnetic p-type (Cd,Mn)Te quantum wells (QWs), spin dynamics was previously investigated by Monte Carlo simulations combining the Metropolis algorithm with the determination of hole eigenfunctions at each Monte Carlo sweep. Short-range antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions between Mn spins—which compete with the hole-mediated long-range ferromagnetic coupling—were found to accelerate magnetization dynamics if the layer containing Mn spins is wider than the vertical range of the hole wave function. Employing this approach it is shown here that appreciate magnitudes of remanence and coercivity can be obtained if Mn ions are introduced to the quantum well in a delta-like fashion.     

Ultralow-pump-threshold, femtosecond Cr(3+):LiSrAlF(6)laser pumped by a single narrow-stripe AlGaInP laser diode

We report what we believe to be the first demonstration of a Kerr-lens mode-locked Cr(3+):LiSrAlF(6)laser that is pumped by a single narrow-stripe AlGaInP laser diode with a diffraction-limited output beam. A novel low-loss three-mirror laser cavity design is described in which strong, localized Kerr lensing was exploited such that 75-fs-duration pulses were obtained for only 36mW of incident pump power. This pump power was maintained for 18h by just three AA batteries as the electrical power source. We have shown that mode locking can be sustained for pump powers as low as 22mW.     

Oxygen isotope ratio measurements in CO(2) by means of a continuous-wave quantum cascade laser at 4.3 mum

A mid-infrared laser spectrometer was developed for simultaneous high-precision (18)O/(16)O and (17)O/(16)O isotope ratio measurements in carbon dioxide. A continuous-wave, liquid-nitrogen cooled, distributed feedback quantum cascade laser, working at a wavelength of 4.3 microm, was used to probe (12)C(16)O(2), (16)O(12)C(18)O, and (16)O(12)C(17)O lines at ~2311.8 cm(-1). High sensitivity was achieved by means of wavelength modulation spectroscopy with second-harmonic detection. The experimental reproducibility in the short and long terms was deeply investigated through the accurate analysis of a large number of spectra. In particular, we found a short term precision of 0.5 per thousand and 0.6 per thousand, respectively, for (18)O/(16)O and (17)O/(16)O isotope ratios. The occurrence of systematic deviations is also discussed.