Continuous tunable laser operation in both the 1.31 and 1.55 microm telecommunication windows in LiIn(Si/Ge)O4 olivines doped with trivalent chromium

An ultrawide tuning range from 1160 to 1620 nm for LiInSiO(4) and from 1150 to 1600 nm for LiInGeO(4) crystals has been demonstrated. This is the widest bandwidth and the most near-infrared shifted wavelength range for laser operation ever demonstrated for the Cr(3+) ion. For what is believed to be the first time tunable laser operation was achieved for both the 1.33 and 1.55 microm telecommunication windows from a single optical center.     

Tunable continuous-wave operation of a Cr3+,Li+:Mg2SiO4 laser

Room-temperature tunable cw laser oscillation of Cr3+ ions in forsterite crystals (Mg2SiO4) codoped with chromium and lithium has been demonstrated, for the first time to the authors' knowledge, in pumping a crystal with a Ti:sapphire laser into the first excited level of Cr3+ ions (4A2-4T2 transition). The laser is smoothly tunable in the region of 1095-1170 nm. A slope efficiency as great as 4.4% has been achieved.     

ZnWO4:Cr3+晶体的光谱

采用提拉法生长出不同掺杂浓度的ZnWO4:Cr3+单晶.该材料在912nm处形成宽带荧光发射.激发峰随掺杂浓度的加大而向短波方向移动.在发射带晶体的吸收低,有可能作为在800-1000nm可调谐激光工作介质.     

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.     

Cr3+:Al2(WO4)3晶体的生长和光谱特性

采用顶部籽晶法从Na2WO4助熔剂体系生长出优质的Cr^3 ：Al2(WO4)3晶体,测定了吸收和荧光光谱,结果表明：Cr^3 离子在晶体中有两个宽且强的吸收带和一个微弱的吸收线,两宽带中心波长分别为422和595nm,还有两个较弱的吸收峰,其荧光峰值分别为684和663nm。其荧光宽带和一个较弱的荧光线峰并存,宽带范围为650～820nm,峰值波长为740nm,荧光线峰波长约为680nm,其强度较强。计算了晶场强度和Racah参数,其Dq／B=2．42,晶体属于中阶场介质。研究表明,Cr^3 ：Al2(WO4)3晶体具备可调谐激光晶体的基本光谱要求,且有良好的物化性能,可以实现宽频带可调谐激光输出。     

Effects of annealing treatment and gamma irradiation on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of Cr:GSGG laser crystal

The influence of annealing treatments and gamma-ray irradiation on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of Cr:GSGG crystals grown by the Czochralski method has been investigated. Two absorption bands located near 686 nm and 1050 nm were weakened markedly after the crystal was re-annealed in H₂ atmosphere, which is due to the Cr⁴⁺ ions being de-oxidized into Cr³⁺ ions. The other two weak additional absorption bands induced by gamma-ray irradiation appearing near 310 nm and 480 nm are ascribed to the Fe²⁺ ions and F-type color centers, respectively. In particular, the gamma-ray irradiation with a dose of 100 Mrad has an effect of improving slightly the luminescence properties of Cr:GSGG crystals. The improvement mechanism is analyzed and discussed.     

LiNbO3:Cr:ZnO晶体生长和光谱特性的研究

采用提拉法从近化学计量比的熔体中生长出尺寸为φ20 mm×50 mm的优质LiNbO3:Cr:ZnO(CZLN)晶体,其光学均匀度为7.59(10-5).进行了吸收和荧光光谱的测定研究.吸收谱测试表明:Cr3 离子在晶体中有2个宽且强的吸收带及1个微弱的吸收线,两宽带中心波长分别为480和660 nm,对应于4A2→4T1和4A2→4T2两个具有相同的总自旋能级之间的跃迁,在4A2→4T2吸收宽带的长波边缘处有个很小的吸收峰,其波长为727nm,对应于4A2→2E(R线)的跃迁.荧光测试表明:当激发波长为660 nm时,CZLN晶体荧光宽带和1个较弱的荧光线峰并存,宽带范围为802～988 nm,峰值波长为871 nm,对应于4T2→2E,4A2的联合能级跃迁,荧光线峰波长约为754 nm,其强度较弱,相应于2E→4A2(零声子线)能级跃迁.计算了晶场强度和Racah参数,其Dq/B=2.72,晶体属于强场介质.研究表明,CZLN晶体具备可调谐激光晶体的基本光谱要求,且有良好的物化性能,可以实现宽频带可调谐激光输出.它又具有较大的倍频系数,有望实现420 nm附近紫外的自倍频激光输出.     

钨酸锌激光晶体的光谱测量

用基质晶片作参比,测量了Cu+、Er3+等离子激活的钨酸锌晶体的光谱,并进行了分析讨论,发现激活离子与基质晶格之间存在能量传递过程.晶体在可见光区有比较强的荧光.     

Growth and spectral-luminescent study of SrMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals doped with Tm<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions

SrMoO₄ crystals doped with Tm³⁺ ions have been produced from a melt using the Czochralski method; their spectral-luminescent characteristics have been studied, and laser radiation has been generated at the wavelength of 1.94 μm using laser-diode excitation. The high absorption section at the wavelength of 795 nm, the fairly high luminescence section, the long lifetime at the upper laser level ³F4 of 1.5 ms, and a wide luminescence band allow one to hope for developing efficient tunable Tm³⁺: SrMoO₄ crystal lasers with diode pumping in the range of 1.7–2.0 μm, which are capable of implementing SRS self-transformation of radiation into the middle IR band.     

Tunable continuous-wave laser at quasi-three-level with a disordered Nd:LGS crystal

A diode-pumped tunable CW Nd(3+):LGS laser at quasi-three-level has been demonstrated. The output power up to 403 mW at the central wavelength of 904 nm was obtained, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 29.7%. Taking advantage of the broad emission spectrum of the disordered crystal Nd:LGS, we tuned the laser wavelength within the spectral range of 899.8 to 906.6 nm with an etalon inserted into the V-type cavity. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time to obtain a tunable laser based on the (4)F(3/2)-(4)I(9/2) transition of Nd(3+)-doped crystals.     

Cluster centers in forsterite laser crystals Mg2SiO4 : Cr and Mg2SiO4 : Cr : Li

The structures of chromium-containing cluster centers in forsterite laser crystals Mg₂SiO₄ : Cr and Mg₂SiO₄ : Cr : Li have been simulated using the interatomic potential method. A system of position-dependent parameters of interatomic interaction potentials in forsterite has been developed. In the ionic approximation, this system adequately describes the structure, properties, and defects of the crystal with correct representation of the preferred positional arrangement of chromium ions. The preferred mechanisms of chromium dissolution in forsterite crystals have been evaluated from a comparison of the energies of formation of chromium-containing clusters with different configurations. It has been demonstrated that the results of the simulation of interatomic interaction potentials are consistent with the experimental data obtained from electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy studies.     

990 mW average power, 52% efficient, high-repetition-rate picosecond-pulse generation in the blue with BiB3O6

Efficient single-pass second-harmonic generation (SHG) of tunable high-repetition-rate picosecond pulses into the blue is reported in the nonlinear crystal BiB3O6. Using 2.4 ps fundamental pulses from a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 76 MHz and a 10 mm crystal cut for type I (e + e --> o) phase matching in the optical yz plane, second-harmonic average powers as high as 990 mW with excellent stability have been generated at 52% conversion efficiency, and a tunable range of 370-450 nm is demonstrated. From measurements of single-pass SHG in the continuous-wave regime an effective nonlinear coefficient of 3.7 pm/V has been verified for BiB3O6, and direct comparison with beta-BaB2O4 confirms a SHG power enhancement of approximately 23% for the same crystal length. Autocorrelation measurements in a 200 microm crystal of beta-BaB2O4 result in durations of 2.8 ps for the second-harmonic blue pulses.     

Effect of high-energy electron irradiation on forsterite laser crystals

The effect of 21-MeV electron irradiation on the optical absorption characteristics of Czochralski-grown forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) single crystals (both undoped and chromium-doped) has been investigated. The irradiation is found to induce additional optical absorption (AOA) in the crystals in the range of 225–1200 nm due to the formation of color centers based on intrinsic host point defects and the change in the oxidation state of chromium ions. The AOA spectra have been decomposed into elementary bands. The influence of the chromium concentration in crystals, the oxygen content in the growth atmosphere, and additional doping with lithium on the behavior of these bands has been analyzed. A possible structure of the color centers responsible for the AOA is discussed. It is shown that the electron irradiation somewhat decreases the intensity of the characteristic absorption bands of tri- and tetravalent chromium ions and gives rise to a new absorption band in Mg₂SiO₄:Cr and Mg₂SiO₄:Cr,Li crystals heavily doped with chromium.     

Thermoluminescence and photoluminescence studies on gamma irradiated CsI: Pb2+ crystals

Pure and Pb²⁺-doped CsI crystals have been grown by the Bridgemann technique. Optical absorption, thermoluminescence (TL) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements have been performed. In undoped and Pb²⁺-doped cesium iodide crystals, F-centers and V-centers have been produced at 770 nm and 350 nm, respectively. In Pb²⁺-doped crystals, additional centers at 373 nm, 290 nm and 258 nm bands have been produced. In undoped samples, only two glow peaks at 343 K and 373 K have been produced, and in Pb²⁺-doped samples additional glow peaks at 383 K and 423 K have been produced. For all the samples, TL emission, PL and excitation measurements have been performed.     

Cr,Mg:GSGG 晶体生长、光谱性能及Cr4+形成机理的研究

采用传统提拉法单晶生长技术成功生长出了Cr,Mg:GSGG晶体, 并对生长出的晶体样品进行了氧化气氛和还原气氛退火处理. 通过对比分析退火处理前后样品吸收光谱的变化, 推断出晶体中四面体配位Cr⁴⁺离子的形成机理为: 晶体生长和高温氧化气氛退火的过程中, 四价Cr⁴⁺离子首先在八面体格位上形成, 然后在热激发作用下与邻近四面体格位上的Ga³⁺离子发生置换反应, 从而形成一定浓度的四面体配位Cr⁴⁺离子. 实验结果还表明, 随着电荷补偿离子Mg²⁺离子浓度的增大, 更有利于提高四面体配位Cr⁴⁺离子的浓度.     

铬、钕双掺钆镓石榴石(Cr~(4+),Nd~(3+))∶Gd_3Ga_5O_(12)激光晶体光学性能的研究

用提拉法生长了掺铬、钕的钆镓石榴石(Cr4+,Nd3+∶GGG)自调Q激光晶体。报道了室温下的吸收光谱和荧光光谱特性。分析了Cr离子浓度对光谱性质的影响。比较了Cr4+∶GGG,Nd3+∶GGG和(Cr4+,Nd3+)∶GGG晶体吸收光谱的关系。测量了(Cr4+,Nd3+)∶GGG晶体和Nd3+∶GGG晶体的荧光寿命,它们分别是33μs和250μs。实验表明,(Cr4+,Nd3+)∶GGG晶体是一种非常有潜力的自调Q激光晶体,可以实现大功率激光器的小型化和全固态化。     

Spectroscopic characteristics of LiGaSiO4:Cr nano-glass-ceramics and glassy precursors

We have performed a complex of spectroscopic investigations (extinction, luminescence, and luminescence excitation spectra and luminescence decay kinetics) of LiGaSiO₄:Cr nano-glass-ceramics and Cr-Li-Ga-Si-O glassy precursors. It has been shown that 94–96% of chromium in precursors synthesized in air are in the trivalent form, while remaining chromium is in the form of Cr⁶⁺ and Cr⁴⁺. The luminescence of the latter form in precursors at 300 K is strongly quenched. In precursors synthesized in an inert atmosphere, only trivalent chromium occurs. We have calculated the absorption cross sections of Cr³⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ ions in Cr-Li-Ga-Si-O glassy precursors. It has been shown that, in the case of synthesis of these precursors, a considerable amount of chromium is lost as a result of evaporation and fails to enter the specimens. Upon partial controlled crystallization of the precursors (formation of LiGaSiO₄:Cr nano-glass-ceramics), the oxidation state of chromium that passed to crystallites from the glass phase becomes tetravalent. In this case, two types of luminescence centers arise, which correspond to Cr⁴⁺ ions localized in two different polymorphic modifications of LiGaSiO₄. Spectral characteristics of these two centers (bandshape, peak position, and spectral range) are almost identical, whereas luminescence lifetimes are radically different.     

Er^3＋／Yb^3＋掺杂全光纤环形激光器

本文报道利用Er~(3+)/Yb~(3+)掺杂单模光纤首次研制成功的环形谐振腔结构的可调谐(调谐范围宽于70nm)全光纤激光器的设计原理及其实验结果.     

Investigation of Absorption Spectra of (Cr4+,Yb3+):YAG Crystal

The absorption spectra characters of the (Cr,Yb):YAG,Cr:YAG and Yb:YAG crystals are reported. In the absorption spectra of the (Cr,Yb): YAG crystal,there are two absorption bands at 937 nm and 968 nm respectively,which are suitable for InGaAs diode laser pumping;and there is an absorption band of Cr4+ near 1030 nm,which is suitable for passive Q switch laser output at 1.03 μm. This Cr-Yb-codoped crystal may be a potential material for compact,diode laser pumped passive Q-switched solid-state laser with efficient,high-stable.     

Determination of the charge state of chromium in Cr:Bi<Subscript>12</Subscript>GeO<Subscript>20</Subscript> single crystals by spectral luminescence methods

The valence state and structural localization of Cr ions in Cr:Bi₁₂GeO₂₀ single crystals grown by the Czochralski method in air and annealed in argon or UV-irradiated have been determined in the spectral luminescence study. It is established that chromium is in the state of tetrahedrally coordinated Cr⁴⁺ ions in the samples studied. Octahedrally coordinated Cr²⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions and tetrahedrally coordinated Cr⁵⁺ ions were not revealed.