Optical bistability and multistability via quantum interference in an Er-doped optical fiber

The optical bistability and multistability in an Er³⁺-doped ZrF₄-BaF₂-LaF₃-AlF₃-NaF optical fiber inside a ring cavity are investigated. The underlying mechanism shows some new characteristics that other schemes do not have. Thus, it may provide some new possibilities for technological applications in optoelectronics and quantum information science.     

Optical bistability via quantum interference from incoherent pumping and spontaneous emission

We theoretically investigate the optical bistability (OB) in a V-type three-level atomic system confined in a unidirectional ring cavity via incoherent pumping field. It is shown that the threshold of optical bistability can be controlled by the rate of an incoherent pumping field and by interference mechanism arising from the spontaneous emission and incoherent pumping field. We demonstrate that the optical bistability converts to optical multi-stability (OM) by the quantum interference mechanism.     

Dynamical switching and memory via incoherent pump assisted optical bistability

We analyze the dynamical behavior of all-optical switching and memory based on tunable optical bistability in a three-level Λ-type atomic system driven by a probe field circulating in an optical ring cavity, a coherent coupling field and an incoherent pump field outside cavity. Owing to the incoherent pump process, the absorption and Kerr nonlinearity near the atomic resonance change dramatically as a result of varied population distribution and atomic coherence, and then the switch-up and switch-down thresholds, as well as the width (or area) of bistable curve, can be manipulated effectively. By tuning the intensity of either coherent coupling field or incoherent pump field, we can make the system output flip between the lower and upper branches of different bistable hysteresis loops while the cavity input keeps to a constant value. Accordingly, all-optical switching and memory can be implemented via dynamical control of the bistable behavior under the assistance of incoherent pump. The proposed scheme can find potential applications in all-optical communication and computation.     

Tunable upconversion in Er-doped orthorhombic lead fluoride compound

Near infrared-visible upconversion in Er³⁺ doped orthorhombic PbF₂ compound is investigated. It is experimentally observed that the red emission intensity increases monotonously with Er³⁺ concentration increase, while the green emission intensity first increases and then decreases. Based on the rate-equation, the energy transfers involved in the upconversion processes have been explored. It is shown that due to the different multipolar nature for the energy transfer processes of ²H_11/2 (⁴S_3/2)+⁴I_15/2→⁴I_9/2+⁴I_13/2 and ⁴I_11/2+⁴I_11/2→⁴F_7/2+⁴I_15/2, the green and red upconversion emissions depend on Er³⁺ concentration in different ways. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental observation. It is shown that the upconverted emission bands can be tuned by controlling Er³⁺ concentration in orthorhombic PbF₂ compound, which has many photonic applications under NIR excitation.     

Role of incoherent pumping and Er3+ ion concentration on subluminal and superluminal light propagation in Er3+-doped YAG crystal

We study the absorption-dispersion process and group index of weak probe field in a four-level Er3+:YAG crystal.We find that the Er3+ion concentration and incoherent pumping field can influence the absorption-dispersion process and group index of weak probe field.Moreover,our results show that Er3+ion concentration plays a major role in lasing without inversion and absorption with inversion.     

Negative refraction without absorption via both coherent and incoherent fields in a four-level left-handed atomic system

This paper attempts a probe into negative refraction without absorption by means of an incoherent pump field and a strong coherent field coupling the dense four-level atomic system. With the application of the incoherent pump field to manipulate the populations in atomic levels and the variable strong coherent field to create quantum coherence, the constraint condition of two equal transition frequencies responding to the probe field in the atomic system isn't required. And these lead to the propagation transparency and strong magnetic response of the probe field, left-handedness with vanishing absorption in the atomic system. However, an excessive coherent field intensity would increase the absorption.     

High index of refraction via quantum interference in a three-level system of Er^3＋-doped yttrium aluminium garnet crystal

A simple three-level system is proposed to produce high index of refraction with zero absorption in an Er^3＋-doped yttrium aluminium garnet （YAG） crystal, which is achieved for a probe field between the excited state 4I13/2 and ground state 4I15/2 by adjusting a strong coherent driving field between the upper excited state 4I11/2 and 4I15/2. It is found that the changes of the frequency of the coherent driving field and the concentration of Er^3＋ ions in the YAG crystal can maximize the index of refraction accompanied by vanishing absorption. This result could be useful for the dispersion compensation in fibre communication, laser particle acceleration, high precision magnetometry and so on.     

Optical bistability by two laser beams in photorefractive crystals

For a nonlinear medium, a given incident laser beam may produce different transmitted light waves. This phenomenon (the so-called optical bistability) corresponds to multiple solutions of the boundary value problems of the nonlinear Helmholtz equation. Optical bistability can be useful in the design of optical switches. Devices that display this behavior could potentially play a major role in the development of optical communication systems and computing. In this article we present experimental results concerning the optical bistability in photorefractive BaTiO₃:Fe crystal. Two laser beams were used to interact with the photorefractive crystal which resulted in the bistability of the intensity of transmitted wave. This was achieved without the application of any optical resonator. High contrast optical bistability is found experimentally in the pump-ratio dependence of the output intensity.     

Ultraviolet upconversion luminescence in Er-doped Y2O3 excited by 532 nm CW compact solid-state laser

Ultraviolet upconversion emissions at 262, 276, 308 and 320 nm were observed from Er³⁺-doped Y₂O₃ with a 532 nm continuous wave compact solid-state laser excitation. Power-dependence analysis demonstrates that two-photon upconversion process populates the ⁴D_5/2, ²H_9/2 and ²P_3/2 states. The energy transfer upconversion (ETU) plays an important role in populating ⁴D_5/2 and ²P_3/2 states. It appears that ²P_3/2 state population originates from ETU ²H_11/2+²H_11/2→⁴I_13/2+²P_3/2, moreover, a subsequent excited state absorption (ESA) from the ⁴I_9/2 level.     

Optical Analysis of Er3+:Boro-Fluoro-Phosphate Glasses

This paper deals with the preparation and optical analysis of Er³⁺ (0.2 mol%) boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses in the following glass compositions:

• Series A: 69.8 B₂O₃–10 P₂O₅–10(ZnO/CdO/TeO₂)–10 AlF₃

• Series B: 69.8 B₂O₃–10 P₂O₅–10(ZnO/CdO/TeO₂)–10 LiF

Measured Vis-NIR absorption spectra of Er³⁺:boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses have revealed nine absorption bands at 377 nm, 405 nm, 450 nm, 486 nm, 519 nm, 543 nm, 649 nm, 973 nm and 1529 nm, which correspond with the transitions of ⁴I_15/2 → ⁴G_11/2, (²G_9/2,⁴H_9/2), ⁴F_5/2, ⁴F_7/2, ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2, ⁴F_9/2, ⁴I_11/2, and ⁴I_13/2, respectively. With an excitation at λ _exci = 375 nm, a bright green emission (⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2) at 547 nm has been observed from these erbium glasses. Judd–Ofelt characteristic intensity Ω_λ (λ = 2, 4, 6) parameters are obtained from the absorption spectra, and these results were used to compute the radiative properties of Er³⁺:boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses. The NIR emission (⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2) at 1547 nm from these glasses was measured with an Ar⁺ laser (514.5 nm) as an excitation source.     

UV and visible upconversion luminescence in Er^3＋：YAG under red laser excitation

This paper reports that the ultraviolet and visible upconversion luminescence from the ^4S3/2, ^2G9/2 and ^2P3/2 levels have been observed in Er^3＋：YAG following 647.2 nm excitation of the ^4F9/2 multiple. Upconversion luminescence intensity dependence on pump power was recorded. The measured decay profiles were theoretically fitted by kinetics theory and the basically good agreements were achieved. The results indicate that some energy transfer processes proposed to explain the observed upconversion phenomena are reasonable.     

Enhanced optical activation of Er in Er-doped Al2O3 powders by Y codoping in a sol-gel method

Enhanced photoluminescence (PL) mechanism of Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ powders by Y³⁺ codoping at wavelength 1.53 μm has been investigated through PL measurements of 0.1 mol% Er³⁺- and 0-20 mol% Y³⁺-codoped Al₂O₃ powders prepared at a sintering temperature of 900 °C in a non-aqueous sol-gel method. PL intensity and lifetime of Er³⁺-Y³⁺-codoped Al₂O₃ powders composed of γ-(Al,Er,Y)₂O₃ and θ-(Al,Er,Y)₂O₃ phases increased with increasing Y³⁺-codoping concentration. The 10-20 mol% Y³⁺ codoping in 0.1 mol% Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ powders intensified the PL intensity by about 20 times, with a PL lifetime prolonged from 3.5 to 5.8 ms. A maximal increase of the optical activity of Er³⁺ in 0.1 mol% Er³⁺-Y³⁺-codoped Al₂O₃ powders about one order was achieved by 10-20 mol% Y³⁺ codoping. It is found that the improved PL properties for Er³⁺-Y³⁺-codoped Al₂O₃ powders are mainly attributed to enhanced optical activation of Er³⁺ in the Al₂O₃ by Y³⁺ codoping, and to the slightly increased radiative quantum efficiency of Er³⁺ in the Al₂O₃.     

Optical properties of Dy ions in sodium gadolinium tungstates crystal

Dy³⁺-doped NaGd(WO₄)₂ crystal with sizes of about Φ20×40 mm² was grown by the Czochralski technique along the (0 0 1) orientation. Polarized absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and fluorescence decay curve of Dy³⁺-doped NaGd(WO₄)₂ have been recorded at room temperature. Based on the Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory, the intensity parameters from the measured line strengths were evaluated. The J-O parameters were used to predict radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes and branching ratios for various excited levels of Dy³⁺-doped NaGd(WO₄)₂ crystal. The luminescent quantum efficiency of the ⁴F_9/2 level was determined to be approximately 63% for this material. The emission cross-section of the ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 transition was estimated by using the Füchtbauer-Ladengurg method.     

Analysis and optimization of optical bistability in one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal with (HL)(D)(LH) and (LH)(D)(HL) structures

Although one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal (1D-NPC) has been widely studied, there is no comprehensive analysis on decreasing the bistability threshold power.In this paper, conditions required to create bistability have been specified for two types of structures of alternative high and low refractive index layers and defect layers with Kerr nonlinearity effect, in the order of (HL)^p(D)^q(LH)^p and (LH)^p(D)^q(HL)^p, where L and H denote low and high refractive index layers, respectively, D stands for the defect layers, p is the number of LH or HL layers and q is the number of defect layers.One of the essentials for the bistability is appropriate shifts of frequency of the defect mode, so the effect of the order of layer's arrangement in (1D-NPC) structures have been studied. Different structures have been introduced and the best structure for the lowest bistability threshold power has been proposed. Nonlinear finite-difference time-domain (NFDTD) in C++ has been employed for simulation.     

Sensitivities of competitions between different upconversion mechanisms to exciting wavelength in Er:YAG with different concentrations

The sensitivities of UC mechanisms to exciting wavelength have been studied in Er³⁺:YAG crystals with 8.4 and 10.5 at.% dopant concentrations. The impacts of both the dopant concentration and the excitation wavelength on UC fluorescence have been taken into account together and it has been found that in samples with different concentrations though the UC fluorescence concerning the ²P_3/2 and the ²G_9/2 levels are obviously distinct, their sensitivities to exciting wavelength are very similar.     

Er3+离子掺杂钡镓锗玻璃上转换发光机理研究

研究了Er³⁺离子掺杂钡镓锗玻璃的吸收光谱、拉曼光谱和上转换光谱.分析了Er³⁺离子在钡镓锗玻璃中的上转换发光机理.结果表明：玻璃的最大声子能量为828cm^-1，紫外截止波长为275nm.采用800nm和980nmLD激发玻璃样品，在室温下观察到强烈的上转换绿光和红光发射.随着Er³⁺离子浓度的增加，绿光发光强度先增加后减小，而红光发光强度呈单调递增趋势.能量分析表明：800nmLD激发产生的绿光主要源于Er³⁺离子4I_13/2能级的激发态吸收过程；红光发射主要源于Er³⁺离子4I_13/2能级与4I_11/2能级之间的能量转移过程.980nmLD激发产生的绿光主要源于Er³⁺离子4I_11/2能级之间的能量转移过程；而红光发射主要源于Er³⁺离子4I_13/2能级与4I_11/2能级之间的能量转移过程和4I_13/2能级的激发态吸收过程.通过量子效率分析，发现采用800nmLD激发Er³⁺离子掺杂浓度为1mol% 的样品时，上转换绿光发光效率最高. 关键词： 上转换发光机理 3+离子掺杂')" href="#">Er³⁺离子掺杂 钡镓锗玻璃     

Effect of Ce on the spectroscopic properties in Er doped TeO2-GeO2-Nb2O5-Li2O glasses

The Ce³⁺ ion was introduced into Er³⁺ doped TeO₂-GeO₂-Nb₂O₅-Li₂O (TGNL) glass to improve the 1.5 μm fluorescence characteristics. As increasing of Ce³⁺ concentration, the lifetime of Er³⁺:⁴I_11/2 level is shortened form 360 to 225 μs, while the Er³⁺:⁴I_13/2 level remains unchanged. Accordingly, the upconversion fluorescence (blue, green and red) was quenched. Improved 1.5 μm emission is obtained and the reason is ascribed to the increase of nonradiative rate between the ⁴I_11/2 and ⁴I_13/2 level of the Er³⁺ ions.     

Effects of alkali ions on thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of Er-doped gallogermanate glasses

Since information transportation capacity of optical communication network increases rapidly, new optical materials are always demanded with gain bandwidth desirably much broader than traditional erbium-doped silica fiber amplifier (EDFA). We show here in this paper the erbium-doped gallogermanate glasses with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) more than 50 nm. Incorporation of alkali ions such as Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ into the system can on the one hand improve the thermal stability of the glasses, and on the other hand enhance the emission at 1.5 μm due to the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺ and suppress the upconversion process at the same time. This particularly works best for the case of K⁺ inclusion. This work might give a general idea on controlling the Er³⁺ luminescence by simply adjusting the glass component and find a potential laser glass applicable to developing new broadband fiber amplifier.     

Green and red up-conversion emissions and thermometric application of Er3+-doped silicate glass

The green and red up-conversion emissions centred at about 534, 549 and 663\,nm of wavelength, corresponding respectively to the ${^{2}}H_{11 / 2} \to {^{4}}I_{15 / 2}$, ${^{4}}S_{3 / 2} \to {^{4}}I_{15 / 2}$ and ${^{4}}F_{9 / 2} \to {^{4}}I_{15 / 2}$ transitions of Er$^{3 + }$ ions, have been observed for the Er$^{3 + }$-doped silicate glass excited by a 978\,nm semiconductor laser beam. Excitation power dependent behaviour of the up-conversion emission intensity indicates that a two-photon absorption up-conversion process is responsible for the green and red up-conversion emissions. The temperature dependence of the green up-conversion emissions is also studied in a temperature range of 296--673\,K, which shows that Er$^{3 + }$-doped silicate glass can be used as a sensor in high-temperature measurement.