Photoconductivity in LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals codoped with MgO and Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Polymer stabilized cholesteric texture cells with various chiral and monomer concentrations were fabricated. Electro-optical measurement indicates that the chiral concentration and the monomer concentration significantly influence the hysteresis, threshold voltage and field-on and field-off response times of the cell. The chiral dopant is found to increase the hysteresis width and to decrease the field-off response time of the cell. The monomer is found to decrease the hysteresis width and to increase the field-off response time of the cell. The field-on response time is independent of the monomer concentration and the chiral concentration of the cell. A thinner cell has a smaller hysteresis width. PACS 61.30.-v; 42.70.Df; 42.79.Kr     

Quantum dot enabled thermal imaging of optofluidic devices

Quantum dot thermal imaging has been used to analyse the chromatic dependence of laser-induced thermal effects inside optofluidic devices with monolithically integrated near-infrared waveguides. We demonstrate how microchannel optical local heating plays an important role, which cannot be disregarded within the context of on-chip optical cell manipulation. We also report on the thermal imaging of locally illuminated microchannels when filled with nano-heating particles such as carbon nanotubes.     

Luminescence of rare earth-doped Si–ZrO2 co-sputtered films

Er-doped Si-yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin film samples were prepared by rf co-sputtering. Chemical composition of the samples was determined using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and the structure of the films by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The samples were annealed to 700 °C. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements were performed for the visible and infrared. By exciting with the 488-nm-laser line the Er³⁺ emissions ²H_11/2→⁴I_15/2, ⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2, ⁴F_9/2→⁴I_15/2 and a narrow ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 emission were observed. The ⁴I_11/2→⁴I_15/2 emissions for the same excitation wavelength were weak. Excitation wavelength dependence of the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 emissions indicated that the emissions were due to a combination of energy transfer from Si nanoparticles (np) to Er ions and energy transfer from defects in the matrix to the Er ions for excitations resonant with the energy levels of such defects. ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 emission decay measurements show two decaying populations of Er ions according to their locations with respect to other ions or any non-radiative defects. ⁴I_11/2→⁴I_15/2 emission dependence on ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 emission showed that the former was possibly due to a combination of downconversion from higher levels of the Er ions, energy transfer from Si nanoparticles and upconversion transfer processes. We concluded that Er-doped Si-YSZ is a promising material for photonic applications being easily broadband excited using low-pumping powers.     

Confocal micro-luminescence of Zn-diffused LiNbO3:Tm channel waveguides

Zinc-diffused channel waveguides fabricated in thulium-doped LiNbO₃ have been analyzed by means of confocal micro-luminescence techniques. Modifications induced by Zn²⁺ ions in the doped-crystal substrate are characterized following the evolution of the ³H₄→³H₆ luminescence of thulium ions at 795 nm, showing the existence of two different regions in the waveguide. Several Raman modes of LiNbO₃ have been used as well to study the differences between the waveguide and the bulk material.     

Coherent light generation from a Nd:SBN nonlinear laser crystal through its ferroelectric phase transition

In this Letter we have used the optical pump induced thermal loading to drive Nd(3+) a doped Sr(0,47)Ba(0.53)(Nb)(3))(2) laser crystal during laser operation through its ferroelectric phase transition. We demonstrate that lasing is possible below, at, and above phase transition. For temperatures close to (approximately 105 degrees C) the spatial distribution of laser radiation is remarkably affected. This feature, which leads to a laser gain depression, can be explained in terms of the strong temperature dependence of the thermo-optic coefficient during phase transition. Additionally, the visible radiation generated by intracavity self-frequency doubling disappears when the phase transition is undergone, showing a bistable behavior. The results provide fundamental information on physical parameters along the phase transition and will stimulate further work in the fields of nonlinear optics, optical switching, and data storage.     

Lattice micro-modifications induced by Zn diffusion in Nd:LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> channel waveguides probed by Nd<Superscript>3+</Superscript> confocal micro-luminescence

The luminescence properties of Neodymium ions in Zn diffused LiNbO₃ channel waveguides have been studied with sub-micrometric spatial resolution. The analysis of the luminescence spectra suggests the existence of a local expansion and disordering associated to the presence of Zn in the LiNbO₃ lattice after the diffusion process. By taking this cause–effect relation into account, it has been possible to determine both the in-depth and lateral Zn diffusion lengths, as well to elucidate the spatial location of the channel waveguide. PACS 42.65.Wi; 87.64.Tt; 42.55.Rz     

BPM simulation of SNOM measurements of waveguide arrays induced by periodically poled BNN crystals

The simulation of light propagation using standard beam propagation techniques, in periodically inverted domains in Ba₂NaNb₅O₁₂ crystals is presented. The poled domains pattern gives rise to periodic modulation of the refractive index in the crystal, which can be observed with diffraction experiments and simulated by one-dimensional beam propagation methods. The micro-domains are characterized by Scanning Near Field Microscopy, using both transmission and collection modes. In particular, under the collection mode, micro- pictures have been obtained with unexpected high optical contrast between positive and negative domains of up to 80%. Using a beam simulation method, the results are explained considering that the ferroelectric domains operate as a periodic array of planar waveguides.