Harmonic signal generation and frequency upconversion using selective sideband Brillouin amplification in single-mode fiber

Harmonic signal generation and frequency upconversion at millimeter-wave bands are experimentally demonstrated by using selective sideband Brillouin amplification induced by stimulated Brillouin scattering in a single-mode fiber. The harmonic signals and frequency upconverted signals are simultaneously generated by the beating of optical sidebands, one of which is Brillouin amplified. By using this method, we successfully demonstrate generation of third-harmonic millimeter waves at 32.55 GHz with f(LO) of 10.85 GHz and upconversion of 10 Mbps quadrature-shift keyed data at f(IF) of 1.55 GHz into a 30 GHz band with more than 17 dB RF power gain.     

High-resolution two-dimensional image upconversion of incoherent light

We consider a technique for high-resolution image upconversion of thermal light. Experimentally, we demonstrate cw upconversion with a resolution of more than 200 × 1000 pixels of thermally illuminated objects. This is the first demonstration (to our knowledge) of high-resolution cw image upconversion. The upconversion method promises an alternative route to high-quantum-efficiency all-optical imaging in the mid-IR wavelength region and beyond using standard CCD cameras. A particular advantage of CCD cameras compared to state-of-the-art thermal cameras is the possibility to tailor and tune the spectral response leading to functional spectral imaging.     

Time-resolved single-photon detection by femtosecond upconversion

We demonstrate a time-resolved single-photon detection technique based on ultrafast sum-frequency generation, providing femtosecond measurement capability for single photons in photonic quantum information processing. Noncollinear broadband upconversion in periodically poled MgO-doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate with an ultrafast pump and detection with a Si single-photon counter enable efficient detection of IR photons and temporal resolution of ~150 fs. We utilize the timing resolution to map the generation efficiency profile along the propagation axis of a periodically poled KTiOPO(4) crystal, revealing its local grating quality with millimeter resolution. We also apply the technique to two-photon coincidence measurements and directly demonstrate time anticorrelation between coincident-frequency entangled photons that are parametrically generated under extended phase-matching conditions.     

掺铒光纤放大器中上转换过程的影响

掺杂浓度的提高影响了掺铒光纤放大器(EDFA)的性能,对经典Giles模型提出了新的要求。首先研究了高掺杂下铒离子距离较小引起的上转换过程的机理,通过优化速率方程模型分析了上转换过程对EDFA的影响,得出了在泵浦光和信号光远远大于ASE光的假设下泵浦光和信号光沿光纤长度变化的近似表达式,并将该近似分析解与解析解进行了比较。仿真结果表明上转换过程会降低随光纤传输的信号光和泵浦光,影响EDFA的放大性能,并得出了当掺铒浓度大于2.95×1025m-3时,上转换过程的影响不能忽略的结论。     

Radio-over-fiber AM-to-FM upconversion using an optically injected semiconductor laser

A radio-over-fiber system uses light to carry a microwave subcarrier on optical fibers. The microwave is usually frequency modulated for wireless broadcasting. A conventional optical communication system usually operates at the baseband with amplitude modulation. The interface of the two systems thus needs an upconversion from the baseband to the microwave band with AM-to-FM transformation. An all-optical solution employing an optically injected semiconductor laser is investigated. The laser is operated in a dynamic state, where its intensity oscillates at a microwave frequency that varies with the injection strength. When the injection carries AM data, the microwave is frequency modulated accordingly. We demonstrate optical conversion from an OC-12 622-Mbps AM baseband signal to the corresponding FM microwave signal. The microwave is centered at 15.90 GHz. A bit-error rate of less than 10(-9) is measured.     

Harmonic RF carrier generation and broadband data upconversion using stimulated Brillouin scattering

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a harmonic radio frequency (RF) carrier generation and broadband data upconversion technique with single mode and single sideband (− SSB) modulation for radio-over-fiber (RoF) systems using stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The optical carrier-to-sideband ratio (CSR) of the single mode and SSB modulated signal can be easily adjusted to achieve the best received sensitivity performance of the RoF system. By using this method, we successfully demonstrate generation of third-harmonic RF carrier at 32.625 GHz with f_LO of 10.875 GHz and upconversion of 1.25-Gb/s data to the RF carrier band. In addition, the data bandwidth is independent of the Brillouin gain profile. Finally, the transmission performance of the RoF downlink system is examined.     

Energy upconversion and spectroscopic studies of ZBLAN:Er3+

A detailed spectroscopic investigation of ZBLAN:Er3+ sample was performed. Infrared to green, red to blue and blue to ultraviolet energy upconversion studies in this material were also performed. When the material was pumped with a 637 nm dye laser upconversion signals at 402 nm, whose efficiency is ~0.04%, were detected. Intensity parameters, transition probabilities, lifetimes and quantum efficiencies are also obtained.     

Tm3+和 Yb3+共掺杂PGETYA玻璃的直接敏化上转换发光

制备了一种稀土离子掺杂的PGETYA氟氧玻璃材料,它不仅具有较高的上转换发光效率,而且还避免了氟化物基质的缺点。其组分为58.52PbF₂-34.43GeO₂-3Al₂O₃ -0.05Tm₂O₃-4Yb₂O₃,以共掺杂Tm³⁺和Yb³⁺离子为上转换研究的对象。测量了该玻璃系统在980 nm LD激发下的上转换发光光谱,观察到很强的476 nm的蓝色荧光,它来源于Tm³⁺离子的¹G₄→³H₆跃迁。同时,还有两个较弱的红色荧光来源于Tm³⁺离子的¹G₄→³H₄和³F₃→³H₆跃迁。对上转换发光强度与泵浦电流关系曲线的拟合结果表明:此材料的蓝色上转换为三光子过程,红色上转换为双光子过程。     

氟化锆基质材料中单掺Yb3+的上转换特性

在众多的稀土掺杂氧化物、氟化物或氟氧化物基质材料的能量上转换研究当中,Yb^3 单独掺杂的能量上转换研究在国内报道的很少。这是因为,研究者们普遍都认为Yb^3 只是一种良好的敏化剂,主要起能量转移作用。采用固相合成法,稀土Yb单独掺杂ZrF4基质材料,在1200℃烧结合成了粉末样品。样品用功率为几mW的半导体红外激光980nm激发,肉眼就可看到上转换的明亮的红光。在实验室用功率为几十mW的半导体红外激光980nm激发,用光谱仪测量到红、绿、蓝及紫4个波段的上转换荧光光谱,其波峰在412,478,558,671nm波长处,实验反复验证,认为上转换来自Yb^3 的准能级向Yb^3 基态^2F7／2的跃迁。     

Ultra-high range resolution demonstration of a photonics-based microwave radar using a high-repetition-rate mode-locked fiber laser

We experimentally demonstrate the ultra-high range resolution of a photonics-based microwave radar using a high repetition rate actively mode-locked laser(AMLL). The transmitted signal and sampling clock in the radar originate from the same AMLL to achieve a large instantaneous bandwidth. A Ka band linearly frequency modulated signal with a bandwidth up to 8 GHz is successfully generated and processed with the electro-optical upconversion and direct photonic sampling. The minor lobe suppression(MLS) algorithm is adopted to enhance the dynamic range at a cost of the range resolution. Two-target discrimination with the MLS algorithm proves the range resolution reaches 2.8 cm. The AMLL-based microwave-photonics radar shows promising applications in high-resolution imaging radars having the features of high-frequency band and large bandwidth.     

Actively mode-locked visible upconversion fiber laser

Active mode locking of a Pr(3+)/Yb (3+) -doped upconversion fluoride fiber laser with an all-fiber ZnO acousto-optic phase modulator is demonstrated for the first time to the authors' knowledge. Optical pulses of ~550-ps duration with a repetition rate of 239 MHz at a wavelength of 635 nm have been generated.     

非稀土掺杂协同核壳包裹对氟化物纳米晶上转换发光性能的增强

为提高上转换纳米晶的发光效率,提出协同增强的策略,将核壳包裹和非稀土离子掺杂两种方式进行有效的结合,使上转换纳米晶的发光效率实现"1+12"的增强效果。以Na Gd F_4作为基质材料,Yb~(3+)和Er~(3+)分别作为敏化离子和发光离子,以Li~+离子和Na Gd F_4作为非稀土掺杂离子和包裹壳层来构建核/壳纳米结构,研究两种增强方式的协同作用对Na Gd F4∶Yb~(3+)/Er~(3+)纳米晶的上转换发光性能的影响。结果表明,Li+离子掺杂与包裹Na Gd F4壳层共同作用使得β-Na Gd F4∶Yb~(3+)/Er~(3+)纳米晶的上转换发光增强了39倍,明显优于单一方式的增强效果。通过一系列的优化实验结果发现,Li+离子的最佳掺杂摩尔分数为4%。基于以上实验结果,给出了非稀土离子掺杂核壳纳米晶协同增强上转换发光效率的机理。     

Analysis of the effect of numerical aperture on Pr:ZBLAN upconversion fiber lasers

Theoretical analyses show that the use of high-numerical-aperture (NA) fibers can significantly increase the conversion efficiency of a blue Pr(3+) -doped fluoride fiber upconversion laser and reduce the pump-power threshold. A record high efficiency of ~14% and a low 1017-nm threshold of ~30 mW were achieved experimentally with a fiber with a NA of ~0.39.     

Photon-number-resolving detection at 1.04 μm via coincidence frequency upconversion

We demonstrate photon-number-resolving detection based on coincidence frequency upconversion. Pumped by synchronized pulses, the photon signal of the coherent state at 1.04 μm was upconverted into visible replicas with preserved photon number distribution. The upconverted photons were then registered by a silicon multipixel photon counter. The photon-number-resolving performance was improved by reducing the background counts with a synchronous pump as the coincidence gate and reducing the intrinsic parametric fluorescence influence with long-wavelength pumping. A total detection efficiency of 3.7% was achieved with a quite low noise probability per pulse of 0.0002.     

Fluorescence quantum efficiency measurements in the presence of Auger upconversion by the thermal lens method

Mode-mismatched thermal lens (TL) measurements in Cr3+-doped fluoride crystals (LiSrAIF6 and LiSrGaF6) are reported. A nonlinear increase of the TL signal, and decrease of quantum efficiency, with increasing excitation power was observed and attributed to energy-transfer upconversion (ETU). Assuming an upconversion rate that is proportional to the excited-state population, Wup = gammaN(e), the theoretical model developed fits the experimental data well. The ETU parameters (gamma) were determined with unprecedented accuracy for low Cr concentrations. Thermo-optical parameters (K, ds/dT) were also obtained.     

Upconversion white-light emission in Ho3+/Yb3+/Tm3+ codoped LiNbO3 polycrystals

Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ codoped LiNbO₃ polycrystals exhibiting upconversion white-light under 980 nm excitation have been successfully fabricated by the high temperature solid-state reaction method. CIE coordinate of the Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺/LiNbO₃ polycrystal is (0.34, 0.35), which is very close to the standard equal energy white-light illuminate (0.33, 0.33). Efficient green, red, and blue upconversion emissions have been observed. The luminescent decay dynamics are studied, and rate equations for the blue, green, and red emissions are set up to analyze the upconversion luminescence mechanism. The present results demonstrate that the competition between the linear decay and the upconversion process for the depletion of the intermediate excited states plays an important role in upconversion mechanism. The LiNbO₃ with upconversion white-light will be a promising luminous material.     

Periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide sum-frequency generator for efficient single-photon detection at communication wavelengths

We present a device to facilitate single-photon detection at communication wavelengths based on continuous-wave sum-frequency generation with an upconversion efficiency exceeding 90%. Sum-frequency generation in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide is used to upconvert signal photons to the near infrared, where detection can be performed efficiently by use of silicon avalanche photodiodes.     

Gold decorated NaYF<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Yb,Er/NaYF<Subscript>4</Subscript>/silica (core/shell/shell) upconversion nanoparticles for photothermal destruction of BE(2)-C neuroblastoma cells

Gold decorated NaYF₄:Yb,Er/NaYF₄/silica (core/shell/shell) upconversion (UC) nanoparticles (~70–80 nm) were synthesized using tetraethyl orthosilicate and chloroauric acid in a one-step reverse microemulsion method. Gold nanoparticles (~6 nm) were deposited on the surface of silica shell of these core/shell/shell nanoparticles. The total upconversion emission intensity (green, red, and blue) of the core/shell/shell nanoparticles decreased by ~31% after Au was deposited on the surface of silica shell. The upconverted green light was coupled with the surface plasmon of Au leading to rapid heat conversion. These UC/silica/Au nanoparticles were very efficient to destroy BE(2)-C cancer cells and showed strong potential in photothermal therapy.     

Parametric amplification of a coherent light wave in photorefractive BaTiO(3) by a single pump beam

We demonstrate a new method of light amplification based on forward four-wave mixing in photorefractive BaTiO(3). A single pump beam of combined (ordinary and extraordinary) polarization can be used for an efficient cw amplification of a signal wave with slightly shifted temporal frequency. A signal wave with an initial power of less than 1 nW is amplified ~100 times in a 3.2-mm-thick sample.     

水溶性NaYF_4∶Yb/Tm纳米粒子的制备及其上转换发光性质

利用溶剂热法合成了NaYF4:20%Yb,0.5%Tm上转换发光纳米粒子(UCNPs),用扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射分析、发光光谱测量等手段对水溶性纳米颗粒进行了形貌和发光性质表征。结果表明,UCNPs是纯立方相的NaYF4,尺寸均匀分布在30nm左右。在980nm红外光的激发下,UCNPs能够发出肉眼可见的明亮的蓝紫色光。发射光谱中最强发射峰在479nm,来源于Tm3+离子的1G4→3H6发射,并且给出了UCNPs的上转换发光机制。利用聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)作为表面活性剂所制备的上转换发光纳米颗粒具有良好的水溶性,尺寸较小,在生物荧光标记领域具有潜在的应用价值。