Efficient passively Q-switched laser operation of Yb in the disordered NaGd(WO4)2 crystal host

Efficient passively Q-switched laser operation of the disordered Yb:NaGd(WO(4))(2) crystal is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge with a Cr(4+):YAG saturable absorber by diode end pumping. 2.05 W of average output power at a pulse repetition frequency of 13.3 kHz was obtained at an absorbed pump power of 7.7 W, with a slope efficiency of 40%. The energy and duration of the generated laser pulse were 154 microJ and 33 ns, respectively, corresponding to a peak power of 4.67 kW. In continuous-wave operation, the Yb:NaGd(WO(4))(2) laser yielded an output power of 5.5 W with an optical-optical efficiency of 51%.     

Calculations of Rydberg energy levels for Ni ⅩⅧ using the weakest bound electron potential model theory

Martin expression about the quantum defect of single-valence atoms is extended to many-valence atoms by identifying the weakest bound electron (WBE) under the weakest bound electron potential model(WBEPM) theory. Six Rydberg series energy levels of 2p6np2P°1/2 (n ≥ 3), 2p6np2P°3/2 (n ≥ 3), 2p6nd2D3/2(n ≥ 3), 2p6nd2D5/2 (n ≥ 3), 2p6nf2F°5/2 (n≥4), and 2p6nf2F°7/2 (n ≥ 4) for Ni ⅩⅧ are calculated by this method. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Gain characteristics and optimization of dual-pump fiber optical parametric amplifier using two-section highly nonlinear fibers

In this paper the gain characteristics of two-pump fiber optical parametric amplifiers (FOPA) with two-section highly nonlinear fibers are analyzed numerically and the parameters of the fibers are optimized to reach broad and flat gain spectra using genetic algorithm. Different from the previous methods, here the space between two pump wavelengths and the parameter β₄ of the fibers are included as a pivotal factor in the optimization. The numerical simulation shows that using two-section practical high nonlinear fibers, the amplifier may reach 110 nm bandwidth covering 1495–1605 nm with 10.5 dB average gain and gain ripple of 0.17 dB, when the total pump power is 1 W.     

Heavy flags undergo spontaneous oscillations in flowing water

By immersing a compliant yet self-supporting sheet into flowing water, we study a heavy, streamlined, and elastic body interacting with a fluid. We find that above a critical flow velocity a sheet aligned with the flow begins to flap with a Strouhal frequency consistent with animal locomotion. This transition is subcritical. Our results agree qualitatively with a simple fluid dynamical model that predicts linear instability at a critical flow speed. Both experiment and theory emphasize the importance of body inertia in overcoming the stabilizing effects of finite rigidity and fluid drag.     

Upconversion fluorescence property of Er/Yb-codoped novel bismuth-germanium glass

Infrared-to-visible upconversion fluorescence property of Er³⁺/Yb³⁺-codoped novel bismuth-germanium glass under 975 nm LD excitation has been studied. Intense green and red emissions centered at 525, 546 and 657 nm, corresponding to the transitions ²H_11/2→⁴I_15/2, ⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2, and ⁴F_9/2→⁴I_15/2, respectively, were observed at room temperature. The quadratic dependence of the 525, 546 and 657 nm emissions on excitation power indicates that a two-photon absorption process occurs. The structure of the bismuth-germanium glass has been investigated by peak-deconvolution of FT-Raman spectrum, and the structural information was obtained from the peak wavenumbers. This novel bismuth-germanium glass with low maximum phonon energy (∼750 cm⁻¹) can be used as potential host material for upconversion lasers.     

Leakage current and sub-bandgap photo-response of oxygen-plasma treated GaN Schottky barrier diodes

The effect of oxygen plasma treatment on the performance of GaN Schottky barrier diodes is studied. The GaN surface is intentionally exposed to oxygen plasma generated in an inductively coupled plasma etching system before Schottky metal deposition. The reverse leakage current of the treated diodes is suppressed in low bias range with enhanced diode ideality factor and series resistance. However, in high bias range the treated diodes exhibit higher reverse leakage current and corresponding lower breakdown voltage. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveals the growth of a thin GaO_x layer on GaN surface during oxygen plasma treatment. Under sub-bandgap light illumination, the plasma-treated diodes show larger photovoltaic response compared with that of untreated diodes, suggesting that additional defect states at GaN surface are induced by the oxygen plasma treatment.     

Picosecond pulses from a cryogenically cooled, composite amplifier using Yb:YAG and Yb:GSAG

A cryogenic Yb amplifier using two laser materials, Gd3Sc2Al3O12 and Y3Al5O12 (YAG), has been used to obtain 70 W average power at 5 kHz pulse repetition frequency; the output was compressed to 1.6 ps, compared with an input compressible to 1.4 ps. The gain broadening obtained by combining two media enables shorter pulses than using Yb:YAG alone but retains the power-scaling advantages of cryogenic Yb:YAG.     

Anisotropic hyperfine interactions limit the efficiency of spin-exchange optical pumping of ³He nuclei

We use accurate ab initio and quantum scattering calculations to demonstrate that the maximum 3He spin polarization that can be achieved in spin-exchange collisions with potassium (3?K) and silver (1??Ag) atoms is limited by the anisotropic hyperfine interaction. We find that spin exchange in Ag-He collisions occurs much faster than in K-He collisions over a wide range of temperatures (10-600 K). Our analysis indicates that measurements of trap loss rates of 2S atoms in the presence of cold 3He gas may be used to probe anisotropic spin-dependent interactions in atom-He collisions.     

Exciton states and interband optical transitions in wurtzite InGaN/GaN quantum dot nanowire heterostructures

Within the framework of the effective-mass approximation, the exciton states and interband optical transitions in In_xGa_1−xN/GaN strained quantum dot (QD) nanowire heterostructures are investigated using a variational method, in which the important built-in electric field (BEF) effects, dielectric-constant mismatch and three-dimensional confinement of the electron and hole in In_xGa_1−xN QDs are considered. We find that the strong BEF gives rise to an obvious reduction of the effective band gap of QDs and leads to a remarkable electron-hole spatial separation. The BEF, QD height and radius, and dielectric mismatch effects have a significant influence on exciton binding energy, electron interband optical transitions, and the exciton oscillator strength.     

YBa2Cu1-xCox(Cu1-yZny)2Oz体系的Co,Zn共同掺杂效应

本文报道通过对YBa₂Cu_1-xCo_x(Cu_1-yZn_y)₂O_z(0≤x,y≤0.1)体系晶体结构、氧含量、正常态电阻-温度关系、Hall效应以及超导临界温度等的综合测量,发现随着Co和Zn含量的增加,体系经历了从正交结构的超导金属向四方结构的非超导半导体的转变,超导临界温度T_c和载流子浓度n_h均迅速下降,Co 关键词：