Second harmonic generation in a sputtered LiNbO3 film on MgO

Phase-matched optical second harmonic generation with a Nd:YAG laser and a GaAs laser was observed in an rf sputtering LiNbO₃ film guide deposited on a (111)MgO substrate. The efficiency of the SHG with a GaAs laser (TM₀ - TM₂) was about 10^-4 and the conversion efficiency with a Nd:YAG laser (TM₀ - TM₁) was about 10^-6.     

57Fe Mössbauer effect studies in Y66(FExTM1−x)34 metallic glasses

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect (ME) measurements in a variety of Y based metallic glasses are reported. The spectra are best described in terms of a model which assumes two Fe sites having nearly equal intensities. We find that the ME parameters are smooth and monotonic functions of composition (x) for the glasses Y₆₆(Fe_xTM_1?x)₃₄ (TM = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu Zn) leading to the conclusion that Fe randomly substitutes for the various TM in these glasses. The nature of the two sites we observe is radically different depending on whether TM is to the right or left of Ni. Those glasses containing Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni display a degree of chemical ordering. In these glasses (TM = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) we identify site 1 as a Y-dominated Fe environment and site 2 as an Fe environment having a larger number of Fe(TM) near neighbors. A correlation between the isomer shifts [IS] of site 2 and Fe impurities in the corresponding crystalline compounds PTYM₂ is noted and discussed in terms of a volume dependence of IS.     

Synthesis and characterization of TM-doped CuO (TM = Fe,Ni)

Polycrystalline Cu_1?xTM_xO samples (x = 0 and 0.06; TM = Ni²⁺ and Fe³⁺) were grown using a co-precipitation method. The structural and magnetic properties were investigated by means of temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility and room temperature X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The XRPD analyses of the samples reveal the formation of single phase with structure isomorphous to the CuO. Interestingly, T-dependent magnetization shows the reduction of Néel temperature, T_N, from 213 K in the copper oxide to 70 K in the Fe-doped sample (x = 0.06). Because in the Ni-doped samples T_N seems to be unaffected, this decrease in T_N is believed to be due to the different electronic structure of the dopant. The ferromagnetic behavior observed at room temperature in all samples can be related to both the level of oxygen (excess or vacancy) of our samples and to the difference in the magnetic structure of the dopant.     

Amorphization and crystallization processes of the ball-milled Al–Y–Fe–TM alloys (TM = Ni,Co, Cu,and Fe)

High-energy ball milling was used to synthesize aluminum-based alloys containing amorphous and nanocrystalline phases to investigate the compositional effects of transition metals (TM) on the amorphization and crystallization processes of the ball-milled Al₈₅Y₇Fe₅TM₃ alloys (TM = Ni, Co, Cu, and Fe) were investigated. The crystallization kinetics of the ball-milled Al–Y–Fe–TM nanocomposite powders were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC results of Al₈₃Y₇Fe₅Ni₅ show that the crystallization temperature and the activation energy of crystallization are 668 K and 310 kJ/mol, respectively. In-situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction showed that the crystallization was a complex process involving growth of the nanocrystalline phase along with crystallization of the amorphous matrix phase.     

Optical properties and valence change of samarium ions in a sol–gel Al2O3–B2O3–SiO2 glass by femtosecond laser irradiation

10Al₂O₃–5B₂O₃–85SiO₂–xSm₂O₃ glasses were prepared by the sol–gel method. The emission spectra of the glasses indicate that the quench concentration of the Sm³⁺ ions is about 0.2 mol%. The emission spectra of the glasses after high-temperature treatment with H₂ gas exhibit the coexistence of the Sm³⁺ and Sm²⁺ ions. We observed the strong emission line of the Sm²⁺ ions and the emission band of the non-bridging oxygen hole center when the glasses were exposed to a femtosecond laser. It indicates that some Sm³⁺ ions were reduced to Sm²⁺ ions by femtosecond laser pulses and non-bridging oxygen hole centers were formed. The ⁵D₀–⁷F₀ emission line of the Sm²⁺ ions by femtosecond laser irradiation shows a red shift, compared with the emission of the Sm²⁺ ions by reduction with H₂ gas. The strong absorption band and weak, sharp absorption lines in the range from the UV to IR come from charge transfer and the transition from the ⁶H_5/2 state to the various excited states of the Sm³⁺ ions. The reduction mechanism of Sm³⁺ ions is discussed.     

Thermal stability, spectra and laser properties of Yb: lead-zinc-telluride oxide glasses

A series of new glasses of 70TeO₂-(20 − x) ZnO-xPbO − 5La₂O₃-2.5K₂O-2.5Na₂O (mol%) doped with Yb³⁺ is presented. Thermal stability, spectra and laser properties of Yb³⁺ ions have been measured. It found that 70TeO₂-15PbO-5ZnO-5La₂O₃-2.5K₂O-2.5Na₂O composition glass had fine stability ((T_x−T_g)>190 °C), high-stimulated emission cross-section of 1.25 pm² for the ²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 transition and existed measured fluorescence lifetime of 0.94 ms and the broad fluorescence effective linewidth of 72 nm. Evaluated from the good potential laser parameters, this system glass is excellent for short pulse generation in diode pumped lasers, short pulse generation tunable lasers, high-peak power and high-average power lasers.     

Growth and spectroscopic characteristics of Er:YbVO4 crystal

A laser crystal Er³⁺:YbVO₄ has been grown by the Czochralski method with excellent quality. The rocking curve from the (0 0 4) diffraction plane of the as-grown Er³⁺:YbVO₄ crystal was measured and the full-width at half-maximum value was found to be 19.80 in. for the (0 0 4) face. The effective segregation coefficient of Er³⁺ was studied by X-ray fluorescence and the crystal structure was determined by means of X-ray diffraction analysis. The polarized absorption spectra and the fluorescence spectra of Er³⁺:YbVO₄ were measured at room temperature. The spectral parameters were calculated based on the Judd–Ofelt theory, and the intensity parameters Ω₂, Ω₄ and Ω₆ are found to be 5.50×10⁻²⁰, 1.96×10⁻²⁰ and 2.34×10⁻²⁰ cm², respectively. The emission cross-section has been calculated by the Fuechtbauer–Ladenbury method. The spectroscopic parameters of Er³⁺:YbVO₄ are compared with other typical laser hosts.     

Glass formation and third-order optical nonlinear properties within TeO2–Bi2O3–BaO pseudo-ternary system

Tellurite glasses from TeO₂–Bi₂O₃–BaO pseudo-ternary system were prepared using a conventional melt-quenching method and its glass-forming region was determined. A series of glasses were selected and their third-order optical nonlinearities (TONL) were measured by employing the Z-scan method at a wavelength of 800 nm with femtosecond laser pulses. The results showed that glass former Te⁴⁺ ions exhibited positive influences on the TONL and glass modifiers Ba²⁺ ions behaved similarly; low concentrated Bi³⁺ ions as glass modifiers weakened the nonlinearities, but an excess amount of Bi³⁺ behaved oppositely. FTIR measurements demonstrated that chemical bonds especially Te–O_eq vibrated at a high energy level remarkably promoted the TONL susceptibility χ⁽³⁾, and the glass sample with the highest Bi₂O₃ content exhibited the largest χ⁽³⁾ value which was due to the presence of BiO₃ polyhedra.     

Er3+-doped germanate glasses for active waveguides prepared by Ag+/K+ ↔ Na+ ion-exchange

Planar waveguides were prepared by Ag⁺/K⁺ ? Na⁺ ion-exchange on Er⁺³-doped GeO₂–ZnO–Na₂O–Li₂O glasses obtained by a melting–casting method. Optical parameters of the waveguides were measured at 543.5, 632.8, and 1550 nm by m-line technique as a function of the Ag⁺ ion-exchange time. The optimized planar waveguides show an effective diffusion depth (d) of 2.95 μm and well confined propagating TE₀ and TM₀ modes at 1550 nm. Spectroscopic properties as photoluminescence emission and emission decay time were evaluated for the erbium-doped planar waveguide, indicating that Ag⁺ ? Na⁺ ion-exchange enhance the photoluminescence emissions in the green and infrared regions from erbium ions. The glass system studied is promising to be applied as optical amplifiers in the C-telecom band. Green emission sensitized by Ag⁺ was also observed.     

Writing of birefringent lines in LBG glasses by UV pulsed laser irradiation

Glass isotropy could be broken by using the electric field of the 355 nm wavelength delivered by a nanosecond YAG: Nd³⁺ laser. In this way, pulsed laser-induced birefringence was obtained in the La₂O₃–B₂O₃–GeO₂ (LBG) glassy system. Buried lines behaving like waveguides were written in glasses using this laser irradiation process. Micro Raman spectra performed in irradiated points of glasses revealed a rotation of the light polarization in agreement with previous results obtained on thermally-poled LBG glasses. However, no orientation effects of irradiated points related to the direction of the laser wave polarization (UV poling) could be clearly evidenced as suggested in our last paper. The interaction of the glass with the electromagnetic field of the UV laser beam can be more probably described by mechanisms based on a densification process.     

New data on the physical properties of Y3Al5O12-based nanocrystalline laser ceramics

Microhardness and fracture toughness of highly transparent Y₃Al₅O₁₂-and Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Nd³⁺-based nanocrystalline ceramics are measured for the first time. For the Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Nd³⁺ laser ceramics, the use of a longitudinal scheme with a diode-laser pumping at a wavelength of 1.3186 mm (⁴ F _3/2 → ⁴ I _13/2 channel) enabled one to attain an output power of continuous-wave lasing of ～3.7 W with 35% efficiency.     

Selective crystallization of amorphous silicon thin film by a CW green laser

A simple and effective method for selective CW laser crystallization of a-Si (CLC) without pre-patterning of a-Si has been reported. By using a metallic shadow mask instead of a photolithographic process, we can reduce the process steps and time compared with a conventional CLC process. It shows very high performance – mobility of 173 cm²/s, I_off of ∼10⁻¹³ A @ V_d = −5 V, I_on/I_off of >10⁸ – as a p-channel poly-Si TFT even without any pre-/post-treatment to improve TFT characteristics such as plasma hydrogenation.     

Influence of Thermal Processing Parameters and Material Properties on Velocity Configurations in Semiconductor Melts During the Vertical Bridgman Growth Technique

The paper deals with the influence of thermal boundary conditions and thermophysical material properties on velocity configurations in Bridgman arrangements. Numerical simulations are presented for (Bi_1—xSb_x)₂Te₃ melts as a representative for semiconductor melts of low Prandtl numbers. Based on two characteristic temperature profiles, results have been calculated for 2D-axisymmetric and 3D Bridgman configurations applying the FIDAP^TM FEM code using pseudo-steady-state conditions with a constant growth rate. For simulation close to real growth conditions the model used includes real geometry parameters as well as the experimentally measured temperature distribution at the outer ampoule surface and temperature depending material properties. The calculations show significant variations in the flow configuration and the resulting radial inhomogeneity of the grown crystal depending on the thermal processing parameters used.     

Synthesis,crystal growth and second harmonic generation properties of trivalent rare-earth-doped non-linear tungsten–bronze-type structure Ba2Na1−3xRExNb5O15 (RE=Sc,Y, La,Gd, Yb and Lu)

A new compound filled tungsten–bronze-type structure Ba₂Na_1−3xRE_xNb₅O₁₅ (trivalent rare-earth ions: RE³⁺=Sc³⁺, Y³⁺, La³⁺, Gd³⁺, Yb³⁺ and Lu³⁺, with x=0.02) has been prepared by selecting RE³⁺ ions without any absorption in the visible range. The effect of rare-earth addition on micro-twin formation, that is to say, tetragonal–orthorhombic ferroelastic phase transition in barium sodium niobate was investigated and micro-twin formation could be suppressed by doping of smaller RE³⁺ ions such as Yb³⁺ and Lu³⁺. All the samples exhibit an intense second harmonic generation signal under tunable IR pumping laser source, due to both the high values of the non-linear optical coefficients and the absence of absorption of additional RE ions in the visible range.     

Effect of heat treatment on Er3+ containing multicomponent oxyfluoride lead borate glass system

Effect of heat treatment on Er³⁺ containing multicomponent oxyfluoride lead borate glasses in (72 ? x)PbO–xPbF₂–18B₂O₃–6Al₂O₃–3WO₃–1ErF₃ (where x = 9 or 72) system have been studied. The samples with low and high PbF₂ concentrations were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and luminescence spectroscopy. Several narrowed and relatively intense diffraction lines have been formed after heat treatment attributed to the orthorhombic PbF₂ phase. Luminescence spectroscopy revealed bands due to ⁴I_13/2–⁴I_15/2 and ⁴S_3/2–⁴I_15/2 transitions of Er³⁺ ions. This observation makes these glasses candidates for NIR laser active media and up-conversion applications.     

Atomic modelling of crystal/complex fluid/crystal contacts—Part II. Simulating AFM tests via the GenMol code for investigating the impact of CO2 storage on kaolinite/brine/kaolinite adhesion

GenMol^TM code is used to simulate Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tests at a kaolinite/brine/kaolinite contact, the confined fluid in sub-nanometre interspaces being in equilibrium with an external multi-species solution. The attraction/repulsion effort, i.e. the derivative versus the interspace aperture h of the interaction energy between both kaolinite faces, is computed versus the variable composition of the confined fluid (see for the method Part I of this work). Two external solutions are tested. Solution S1 is a neutral brine (pH=7.5) leading to a possible attraction for apertures lower than 7 Å. Solution S2 is an acidified brine (pH=3.2) leading to repulsion whatever may be the aperture h. These two AFM simulations prove the existence of a critical pH value (3.2<pH_crit<7.5) of the external solution, below which the acidification of a natural brine in a CO₂ confinement inhibits adhesion between kaolinite aggregates.     

Structural investigation of sodium borate glasses and melts by Raman spectroscopy.: I. Quantitative evaluation of structural units

Short-range and intermediate range structures of the sodium borate glass system were investigated using Raman spectroscopy to quantify their dependence on Na₂O concentration. High-resolution spectra were collected by Raman spectroscopy using the Q-switched, second-harmonic pulse of a Nd:YAG laser as an excitation source. The system was designed for measurement of the spectra of glasses and melts up to temperatures over 1000 °C with high signal to noise ratio. Use of polarized light and the simultaneous analysis of HH and VH spectra allowed deconvolution of Raman spectra into appropriate bands with high reproducibility. The deconvoluted bands in the high-frequency region of 1100-1600 cm⁻¹ could be assigned to the vibration modes due to the short-range structures of BO₃ and BO₂O⁻ units in the glasses. The band intensity ratios showed a simple linear relationship with the molar ratio, symmetric BO₃ triangle unit, N_3s, to asymmetric BO₂O⁻ triangle unit, N_3a, obtained from ¹¹B-NMR results. These results allowed a quantitative measure for normalizing the spectra leading to a direct comparison of the band intensities. The ring-structures of intermediate range order, boroxol, pentaborate, tetraborate and diborate groups, could be quantified from the spectra in the middle-frequency region. Their trends with Na₂O concentration showed a good consistency with ¹⁰B-NMR results and also Krogh-Moe’s model.     

Spectroscopic properties of the 1.8 μm emission of Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped TeO2–ZnO–Bi2O3 glasses with efficient energy transfer

Tm³⁺-doped and Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺-codoped TeO₂–ZnO–Bi₂O₃ (TZB) glasses are prepared by melt-quenching method. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω_t t = 2, 4, 6), radiative transition rate, and radiative lifetime of Tm³⁺ are calculated based on the absorption spectra. The 1.8 μm emission of the samples is investigated under 980 nm laser excitation. The absorption, emission cross-sections, and gain coefficient of Tm³⁺:³F₄ → ³H₆ are calculated. The energy transfer processes of Yb³⁺–Yb³⁺ and Yb³⁺–Tm³⁺ are analyzed, the results show that the Yb³⁺ ions can transfer their energy to Tm³⁺ ions with large energy transfer coefficient, and a maximum efficiency of 79%.     

Planar waveguides by ion exchange in Er-doped tellurite glass

This work reports the preparation of planar waveguides by Ag⁺ → Na⁺ ion exchange in Er³⁺-doped tellurite glass with a composition of 75TeO₂-2GeO₂-10Na₂O-12ZnO-1Er₂O₃ (mol%). The metric, of T_x − T_g, indicates that the glass has good thermal stability. Measurments of refractive index, absorption spectrum, luminescence and lifetime were made. The glass was chemically stable during the ion exchange process. Monomode and multimode planar waveguides in the tellurite glasses have been prepared. We determined the depth of the guides, effective diffusion coefficient and the activation energy. The depths of the waveguides could be controlled by varying ion exchange temperatures and times (250-280 °C, and 3-12 h were used).     

Energy transfer and frequency upconversion in Pr3+-doped ZBLAN glass

The lifetimes of ³P₀ and ¹D₂ levels of Pr³⁺ were measured in ZBLAN glasses of composition in mol% 53ZrF₄–20BaF₂–(4 − x)LaF₃–3AlF₃–20NaF–xPrF₃ (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 3) by resonant excitation. Energy transfer observed between Pr³⁺ ions was analyzed by means of the Inokuti–Hirayama theory. The non-exponential dependence of the ¹D₂ decay on Pr³⁺ concentration indicates that dipole–dipole interaction between Pr³⁺ is the main process. Orange-to-blue upconversion luminescence was observed and described by two-ion energy transfer mechanism. The temporal evolution of upconversion luminescence was characterized by rise and decay times related to the dopant concentration.