Laser time-resolved spectroscopy: Investigations of energy transfer in Eu3+ and Er3+ doped YVO4

Host-sensitized energy transfer in YVO₄ crystals doped with Eu³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions was investigated using laser excited time-resolved spectroscopy techniques. The results are consistent with a model in which the energy is transferred by a single step process from self- trapped excitons to activators at low temperatures, and by thermally activated exciton hopping at high temperatures. The rate of the latter process is found to be strongly affected by the trapping step with activator-induced host traps playing an important part in the trapping process. Time-resolved spectroscopy techniques are shown to be expecially useful in separately determining the characteristics of migration and trapping processes in exciton energy transfer. The parameters describing these processes are determined for the systems investigated using both diffusion and generalized random walk theories.     

Spectroscopic analysis of Pr3+:CaYAlO4 crystal

The polarized absorption, emission spectra and decay time measurements of Pr³⁺-doped CaYAlO₄ single crystal have been performed at room temperature. Based on the Judd–Ofelt theory, the spectroscopic parameters \(\Upomega_{t} (t = 2,4,6)\) , radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes and branching ratios were obtained. The stimulated emission cross-section, fluorescence lifetimes and the quantum efficiency of the promising laser transition were also calculated and compared with other reported crystals. The results show that Pr³⁺:CaYAlO₄ is a promising candidate for visible solid-state laser emission.     

Investigation of LD end-pumped Nd:YVO4 crystals with various doping levels and lengths

The absorption properties of Nd:YVO₄ crystals with various doping levels and lengths are reported. The effective stimulated emission cross-sections of different doping levels are calculated with measured upper-level lifetimes. Our investigation gives good advice on the optimization of LD end-pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser.     

Optical spectroscopy of Cr3+ and Rh2+ in sodium-beta-̋alumina

Ion exchange techniques were used to substitute Cr³⁺ and Rh²⁺ ions for the sodium ions present in sodium-beta″-alumina single crystals. The optical absorption and fluorescence spectra were obtained and the fluorescence lifetimes measured for both types of samples. In each case the emission consisted of two bands having significantly different decay times. The temperature dependences of the fluorescence intensities and lifetimes were measured for these bands. The results are interpreted in terms of the energy level structures of these ions in different crystal field sites in this host lattice and the diffusion of ions in the conduction plane which changes these sites.     

Spectroscopic characterisation of Er-doped LuVO4 single crystals

The LuVO₄:Er single crystals were grown by the Czochralski technique. The crystal-field split energy levels of Er³⁺ ion were derived experimentally employing absorption and emission spectra measured at T=10 K. The Judd–Ofelt phenomenological method was used to estimate intensity parameters, radiative lifetimes and branching ratios of luminescence. The excited state dynamics of the LuVO₄:Er systems was investigated and experimental lifetimes of emitting levels were measured. The emission cross section of the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 transition in the infrared was calculated by the Füchtbauer–Ladenburg method. The gain cross section, estimated for several inverse-population parameters, allowed us to evaluate a potential laser activity of the LuVO₄:Er system at 1.6 μm. Also, the potential range of the optical pumping was assessed based on absorption spectra achieved at the room temperature. The optical losses related to the green up-converted emission, encountered under the 978 nm excitation between 300 and 670 K were indicated and discussed. Spectroscopic peculiarities of the Er³⁺-doped LuVO₄ crystal were discussed in relation to optical properties of the YVO₄:Er and GdVO₄:Er crystals. Taking into account the high quantum efficiency of the ⁴I_13/2 level, and satisfactory absorption and emission features, the LuVO₄:Er crystal can be considered as a promising active material for laser operation near 1.6 μm.     

Simultaneous dual-wavelength laser operation at 1342 and 946 nm in two laser crystals and their sum-frequency mixing

A sum-frequency yellow-green laser at 554.9 nm is reported by this paper, 946 nm wavelength is obtained from ⁴F_3/2-⁴I_9/2 transition in Nd:YAG and 1342 nm wavelength is obtained from ⁴F_3/2-⁴I_13/2 transition in Nd:YVO₄. Using a doubly folded-cavity type-II critical phase matching KTP crystal intra cavity to make 946 nm laser from Nd:YAG and 1342 nm laser from Nd:YVO₄ frequency summed, with incident pumped power of 30 W in Nd:YAG and 20 W in Nd:YVO₄, TEM₀₀ mode yellow-green laser at 554.9 nm at 1.15 W is obtained and its M² factor is less than 1.22. The experimental results show that the Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO₄ crystals intra-cavity sum-frequency mixing is an effective method for yellow-green laser and it can be applied to other two laser crystals to obtain more all-solid-state lasers with different wavelengths.     

Optical properties of Pr3+-doped SrWO4 crystal

The polarized absorption and emission spectra of Pr³⁺ ions in SrWO₄ single crystals were investigated at room temperature. The standard and modified Judd–Ofelt theories have been applied to analyze the polarized absorption spectra to determine the spectroscopic parameters, including the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters Ω_t (t=2,4,6), radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes and branching ratios. The stimulated emission cross sections and fluorescence lifetimes of the promising laser level were obtained. PACS 78.55.Hx; 42.70.Hj; 78.20.-e     

Fluorescence decay dynamics and anneal effect on praseodymium ions doped in lead tungstate single crystal

Fluorescence decay dynamics of main emission manifolds of trivalent praseodymium ions doped in the as-grown and annealed PbWO₄ crystals were analyzed in detail. The fluorescence lifetimes of the ³P₀ and ¹D₂ manifolds were obtained from the fluorescence decay curves measured at room temperature. The main mechanism of fluorescence quenching of the ³P₀ manifold is the non-radiative relaxation to the defect centers coming into being during crystal growth. The dominant non-radiative relaxation for the ¹D₂ manifold is the cross-relaxation energy transfer involving the ¹G₄ and ³F₄ manifolds. The Inokuti–Hirayama model was used to analyze the decay dynamics of the ¹D₂ manifold, and the fluorescence lifetime τ₀ of the as-grown and annealed Pr³⁺:PbWO₄ crystals in absence of cross-relaxation energy transfer are derived as 35.2 μs and 37.9 μs, respectively. The annealing treatment can eliminate most defect centers except for those related to the lead vacancies.     

Effect of Nd3+ concentration on CW and pulsed performance of fiber-coupled diode laser pumped Nd:YVO4 laser at 1064 nm

The effect of Nd³⁺ concentration on the CW and Q-switched laser performances at 1064 nm from Nd: YVO₄ has been studied under diode laser pumping in identical laser configuration. The Nd³⁺ concentrations used were 1, 2 and 3 at.% in YVO₄ crystals. Under the CW operations we have compared the thermal lensing effect, slope efficiencies and also the beam quality at the fourth-order degeneracy configuration. Q-switching was done with the help of an acousto-optic modulator and we have compared the pulses obtained from Nd: YVO₄ laser with different doping concentration. It was found that the 1 at.%-doped crystal is the best, offering highest optical-to-optical conversion efficiency (55%), lowest fractional heat load (24%), highest pulse energy (80 μJ) and shortest pulse width (20 ns). It was also found that there was not much difference in performances for 2 and 3 at.%-doped crystals both in CW and Q-switched configurations.     

Novel templates directed synthesis of YVO4: Eu3+ (red) and Y2O3–SiO2: Tb3+(green) phosphors

Red/green emissive phosphors YVO₄: Eu³⁺ and Y₂O₃–SiO₂: Tb³⁺ have been synthesized via novel templates direction methods. Photoluminescence studies exhibit the emission intensities as significantly enhanced through pre-encapsulation treatments of designed pyridine amide compounds (YVO₄: Eu³⁺) and 3,4,5-tris(tetradecoxy) benzoic acid (Y₂O₃–SiO₂: Tb³⁺). The as-prepared vanadate particles turn out to be much less agglomerated based on the dispersion by the organic templates. The obtained composite materials, which demonstrate extraordinary fluorescence properties, could be promising candidates for future optoelectronic devices.     

Photoluminescence of colloidal YVO4:Eu/SiO2 core/shell nanocrystals

YVO₄:Eu, and YVO₄:Eu/SiO₂ nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by hydrothermal method with citrate as capping ligands. Their morphologies, structures, components, and photoluminescence properties were investigated and presented in this paper. A remarkable fluorescence enhancement up to 2.17 times was observed in colloidal YVO₄:Eu/SiO₂ NCs, compared to that of colloidal YVO₄:Eu NCs. This is mainly attributed to the formation of the outer protecting layers of biocompatible SiO₂ shells; which shield the Eu³⁺ ions effectively from water and thus reduces the deleterious effects of water on the luminescence. Meanwhile, on the basis of laser selective excitation, two kinds of luminescent centers were confirmed in the NCs, namely, inner Eu³⁺ ions and surface Eu³⁺ ions. The surface modifications for YVO₄:Eu NCs effectively reduced the surface defects and accordingly enhanced the luminescence. The core/shell NCs exhibited long fluorescence lifetime and high photostability under ultraviolet radiation.     

Spectroscopy of YVO4:Ho3+ crystals

Crystals of YVO₄:Ho were grown by the Czochralski method. The structure of the low-energy levels of Ho³⁺ has been estimated experimentally. Intensity parameters, radiative lifetimes, and branching ratios have been calculated in the framework of the Judd–Ofelt theory. The influence of temperature on luminescence lifetimes has been investigated. The calculated nonradiative transition rate was compared with the energy-gap law. The potential laser gain for the ⁵ I ₇–⁵ I ₈ transition has been estimated. Received: 27 June 2001 / Final version: 10 December 2001 / Published online: 7 February 2002     

A novel orthogonally linearly polarized Nd:YVO4 laser

We presented a novel orthogonally linearly polarized Nd:YVO₄ laser. Two pieces of a-cut grown-together composite YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ crystals were placed in the resonant cavity with the c-axis of the two crystals orthogonally. The polarization and power performance of the orthogonally polarized laser were investigated. A 26.2-W orthogonally linearly polarized laser was obtained. The power ratio between the two orthogonally polarized lasers was varied with the pump power caused by the polarized mode coupling. The longitudinal modes competition and the corresponding variable optical beats were also observed from the orthogonally polarized laser. We also adjusted the crystals with their c-axis parallele to each other, and a 40.7-W linearly polarized TEM₀₀ laser was obtained, and the beam quality factors were M²_x=1.37 and M²_y=1.25.     

Investigation of emission spectra and lifetimes of Cs2NaErCl6 single crystals

The fluorescence spectra and lifetimes of low lying states of Er³⁺ in Cs₂NaErCl₆ single crystals have been investigated at room temperature and at 77 K. The assignments of the ⁴F_{$\text{9}\text{2}$}-⁴I_{$\text{15}\text{2}$} and ⁴I_{$\text{11}\text{2}$}-⁴I_{$\text{15}\text{2}$} phonon-assisted transitions have been proposed. The fluorescence lifetimes of low lying fluorescing levels have been estimated.     

Transient grating measurements of refractive-index changes in intensively pumped Yb-doped laser crystals

Mechanisms of transient light-induced refractive-index changes in Yb-doped crystals Yb:KYW, Yb:KGW and Yb:YVO₄ were studied. Relative amplitudes and lifetimes of the electronic component of phase gratings caused by the polarizability difference of the excited and unexcited Yb³⁺ ions and the thermal component arising from thermalization of the pump energy were measured. Polarizability difference values of the ground ² F _7/2 and the excited metastable ² F _5/2 levels at the testing wavelength of 633 nm were determined for all crystals. The thermal diffusivity of the samples was estimated for selected directions of the thermal gradient. An athermal direction, along which the thermal component of refraction disappears, was found in Yb:KYW crystal under specific experimental conditions. PACS 42.70.Hj; 42.65.An; 66.30.Xj     

Modeling the cw lasing regime for diode-pumped solid state lasers

In terms of a system of balance equations, we propose a model for describing the operation of lasers based on solid-state quasi-three-level active media in the cw lasing regime with longitudinal pumping by emission from diode lasers, taking into account the spatial distribution of the pump and lasing light beams. We model the operation of lasers based on the active crystals Yb³⁺:NaLa(MoO₄)₂ and Yb³⁺:YVO₄, taking into account the proposed spatial distribution function of the intensity and the emission spectrum of the pump. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 55–60, January–February, 2007.     

Optical properties and laser performance of Yb-doped vanadates grown by floating zone method

We grew high-quality Yb:LuVO₄, Yb:GdVO₄, and Yb:YVO₄ by the floating zone (FZ) method. It was found by measurement that these crystals had favorable optical properties. A maximum absorption coefficient of 27 cm^?1 (FWHM) and a fluorescence bandwidth with a 20 nm (FWHM) were observed for Yb:LuVO₄ at a Yb doping level of 4 at. %. Finally, we demonstrated the lasing performances of Yb:LuVO₄, Yb:GdVO₄, and Yb:YVO₄. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a Yb-doped vanadate grown by the FZ method has been used as a laser, and 4 at.% Yb doping of the Yb:LuVO₄ and Yb:YVO₄ is the highest level of doping at which laser oscillation occurs among the Yb-doped vanadates.     

Growth and Study of Scintillation Properties of Orthovanadate Crystals Ca:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and Ca:YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

New scintillation orthovanadate crystals Ca:GdVO₄ and Ca:YVO₄ featuring intrinsic luminescence are grown. The spectra of pulsed cathodoluminescence of new scintillators and their luminescence decay time are studied. Using γ-rays with an energy of 662 keV from the ¹³⁷Cs source, total absorption spectra (so-called photopeaks) for new orthovanadate crystals are measured. It is shown that the light yield of Ca:YVO₄ and Ca:GdVO₄ crystals is 28100 photon/MeV and 14000 photon/MeV, respectively.     

Luminescence of CsPbBr3-like quantum dots in CsBr single crystals

Luminescence and decay kinetics of the Pb²⁺ aggregates in CsBr host crystals were measured in the 4–300 K temperature interval and in 10⁻¹⁰–10⁻³ time scale. Their emission properties are similar to those of CsPbBr₃ bulk crystal showing a subnanosecond free exciton emission in the 520–540 nm spectral region and slower trapped exciton emission in the 530–580 nm spectral region. An efficient energy exchange between the free and trapped exciton states is shown by the temperature dependencies of emission spectra. The quantum size effect is demonstrated in the high energy shift and broadening of the absorption and emission spectra and an estimate of the size of the CsPbBr₃-like aggregates is provided. Independent evidence of the presence of the CsPbBr₃ and Cs₄PbBr₆ aggregated phases in the CsBr host was obtained by X-ray structural studies.     

激光二极管端面抽运Nd∶YVO4晶体连续输出板条激光器研究

报道了利用激光二极管列阵端面抽运Nd∶YVO₄混合腔板条激光器连续波输出的实验结果,获得近衍射极限的60 W连续激光输出. 实验证明两种晶体输出功率相当,低掺杂浓度的Nd∶YVO₄晶体更有利于得到近衍射极限的高功率输出,但同时对冷却水温度的变化也较敏感. 关键词： 激光二极管端面抽运 板条激光器 混合腔