Latest developments of bulk crystals and thin films of rare-earth doped CaF2 for laser applications

Several CaF₂ single crystals doped with trivalent rare-earth ions have been grown in the recent years in the form of bulk crystals by using the Bridgman method and in the form of thin films by using the MBE and LPE techniques. The spectroscopic, gain and laser properties of these crystals doped with Pr³⁺, on the one hand, and with Yb³⁺, Tm³⁺ or Er³⁺ ions, on the other hand, have been studied and are reviewed here for their laser potentials in the red and in the infrared spectral domains, respectively.     

Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy of Gd0.8L0.2Mn6Sn6 and Tb0.8L0.2Mn6Sn6 compounds (L=Sc,Y, Lu)

The HfFe₆Ge₆-type compounds Gd_0.8L_0.2Mn₆Sn₆ and Tb_0.8L_0.2Mn₆Sn₆ (L = Sc, Y, Lu) have been studied by ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. The values of the apparent quadrupolar splitting clearly evidence the easy plane magnetization of the gadolinium compounds and the easy axis one in the terbium compounds. The three tin sites behave differently with the nature and size of the substituting L element. For a given series, the hyperfine field of the Sn_2d site is almost unchanged whatever the size of the L element. The hyperfine field of the Sn_2e site strongly varies with the L size in relation with atomic displacements. The hyperfine field of the Sn_2c site exhibits a more complicated behavior. The field difference in the easy plane and easy axis compounds confirms the angle-dependent anisotropic contribution of the Mn moment to the hyperfine field. The analysis of the results also suggests the play of angle-dependent contributions arising from the rare earth moment.     

Observation of field induced anomalous quantum criticality in Ce0.6Y0.4NiGe2 compound

We report the results of our investigation of magnetization and heat capacity on a series of compounds Ce${}_{1?x}$Y_xNiGe₂ ($x=0.1,0.2\text{ and }0.4$) under the influence of external magnetic field. Our studies of the thermodynamic quantity $?\mathrm{d}M/\mathrm{d}T$ on these compounds indicate that magnetic frustration persists in Ce_0.9Y_0.1NiGe₂, as also reported for the parent compound CeNiGe₂. The weak signature of this frustration is also noted in Ce_0.8Y_0.2NiGe₂, whereas, it is suppressed in Ce_0.6Y_0.4NiGe₂. Heat capacity studies on Ce_0.9Y_0.1NiGe₂ and Ce_0.8Y_0.2NiGe₂ indicate the presence of a new magnetic anomaly at high field which indicates that quantum criticality is absent in these compounds. However, for Ce_0.6Y_0.4NiGe₂ such an anomaly is not noted. For this later compound, the magnetic field (H) and temperature (T) dependence of heat capacity and magnetization obey $H/T$ scaling above critical fields. However, the obtained scaling critical parameter (δ) is 1.6, which is away from mean field value of 3. This deviation suggests the presence of unusual fluctuations and anomalous quantum criticality in these compounds. This unusual fluctuation may arise from disorderness induced by Y-substitution.     

Rare-earth Doped Nanoparticles with Narrow NIR-II Emission for Optical Imaging with Reduced Autofluorescence

Fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared region(900-1700 nm, NIR-II) with a high resolution and penetration depth due to the significantly reduced tissue scattering and autofluorescence has emerged as a useful tool in biomedical fields. Recently, many efforts have been devoted to the development of fluorophores with an emission band covering the long-wavelength end of NIR-II region(1500-1700 nm) to eliminate the autofluorescence. Alternatively, we believe imaging with a narrow bandwidth could also reduce the autofluorescence. As a proof of concept, NaYF₄:Yb,Nd@NaYF₄ downconversion nanoparticles(DCNPs) with sharp NIR-II emission were synthesized. The luminescence of DCNPs showed a half-peak width of 49 nm centered at 998 nm, which was perfectly matched with a (1000±25) nm bandpass filter. With this filter, we were able to retain most of the emissions from the nanoparticles, while the autofluorescence was largely reduced. After PEGylation, the DCNPs exhibited great performance for blood vessel and tumor imaging in living mice with significantly reduced autofluorescence and interference signals. This work provided an alternative way for the low-autofluorescence imaging and emphasized the importance of narrow emitting rare-earth doped nanoparticles for NIR-II imaging.     

Two- and three-dimensional restricted geometry case of luminescence quenching

We present general analytical expression for two and three-dimensional cases of static energy transfer kinetics in doped nanoparticles (of round, spherical and cylindrical shape). A series of numerical experiments has been performed using Monte-Carlo simulation. The analytical expressions have shown very good coincidence with the computer simulation.     

Vibrational spectra and factor group analysis of rare-earth chromium borates,RCr3(BO3)4, with R = La–Ho

Anhydrous orthoborates RM₃(BO₃)₄, where R = Y, La–Lu, M = Al, Ga, Cr, Fe, with huntite structure type are considered as multifunctional laser materials. The crystal structure of these borates is either rhombohedral with space group R32 (D₃⁷) (Z = 3) or monoclinic with space group C2/c (C_2h⁶) (Z = 4) depending on the growth conditions. Both modifications have very close polytypic structures, and it is difficult to identify them by powder diffraction data. In this context, double borates of rare-earth cations and Cr³⁺ have been grown from high-temperature solutions and are characterized by Raman and infrared spectroscopy in a crystalline state in combination with factor group analysis of vibrational modes. The assignment for the stretching and bending vibrations of BO₃³⁻ groups and external modes has been made. Some external modes have been identified by study of mass effect (Al–Cr, La–Ho). Comparison of the Raman spectra of these borates shows redistribution of band intensities of two spectral modifications, related to different symmetry groups. As predicted by factor group analysis, the number of IR-active vibrational modes of stretching and bending vibrations of BO₃³⁻ units significantly increases in infrared spectra of monoclinic borates in comparison with rhombohedral ones. The dependence of the realized borate space group on the crystal growth conditions and the sort of rare-earth atom was revealed. Both GdCr₃(BO₃)₄ and EuCr₃(BO₃)₄ borates crystallize in space group R32 irrespective of growth conditions. The borates with the large rare-earth elements La–Nd always form the monoclinic structures, irrespective of crystallization temperature. The borates SmCr₃(BO₃)₄, TbCr₃(BO₃)₄ and DyCr₃(BO₃)₄ have been obtained in two modifications in dependence of crystalline borate substance/solvent ratio and related temperature of crystallization.     

Rare-earth Metal Borosilicides R9Si15–xB3 (R = Tb,Yb): New Ordered Structures Derived from the AlB2 Structure Type

Two novel ternary borosilicides R₉Si_15–xB₃ (R = Tb, x = 1.80, R = Yb, x = 1.17) were synthesized from the initial elements using tin flux method. Their crystal structures were determined by means of X-ray single crystal diffraction. Both refer to space group R32, Z = 1: a = 6.668(2) Å, c = 12.405(4) Å [R₁ = 0.027, wR₂ = 0.031 for 1832 reflections with I_o > 2σ (I_o)] for Tb₉Si_15–xB₃, and a = 6.5796(3) Å, c = 12.2599(5) Å [R_F = 0.052, wR = 0.090 for 1369 reflections with I_o > 2σ (I_o)] for Yb₉Si_15–xB₃. The structures represent a new structure type, derived from that of AlB₂, with ordering in the metalloid sublattice resulting in distorted [Si₅B] hexagons. The presence or absence of boron in this ordered structure is discussed on the basis of difference Fourier syntheses, interatomic distances, structural analysis, and theoretical calculations in relation with the parent structures of the binaries AlB₂ and Yb₃Si₅ (Th₃Pd₅ type of structure). Theoretical calculations show substantial covalent interactions between the metal and nonmetal elements. The small percentage of silicon atoms, which are missing in these nonstoichiometric compounds, probably allows strengthening boron-metal and boron-silicon bonding.     

Identifying a perovskite phase in rare-earth nickelates using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

We demonstrate a practical way to identify the presence of a perovskite phase in rare-earth nickelates (RNiO₃) using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). By varying the calcination temperature, we prepared RNiO₃ powders with different degrees of chemical reaction. We found that perovskite RNiO₃ becomes predominant after high-temperature calcination (≥1,000 °C) in X-ray diffraction and XPS (at Ni 3p and O 1s edges) measurements. While the observed spectra at the Ni 3p edge are similar for all powders, a sizable difference was observed in the O 1s-edge spectra depending on the calcination temperature. With the formation of a perovskite phase with a trivalent Ni³⁺ state, an XPS peak corresponding to oxygen ions in the perovskite lattice distinctly emerges. Our work shows that the Ni³⁺ state cannot be determined by analyzing the Ni 3p edge solely and rather, the O 1s edge should be simultaneously monitored for explicit identification.     

稀土、2-羟基-3-萘甲酸、邻菲咯啉三元配合物合成及表征

在乙醇溶液中合成了稀土离子(RE=Tb,Eu,Sm,Nd)与2-羟基-3-萘甲酸(HL)、邻菲咯啉(phen)固体配合物。通过元素分析、红外光谱、紫外光谱、差热-热重分析,确定了配合物的组成为REL₄·phen₂·Na·H₂O。初步研究了这些配合物的谱学性质并推测出羧基(—COO—) 与稀土离子和钠离子属于桥式配位, 形成了链状结构的化合物。其中钠离子和稀土离子分别为六配位和八配位模式。     

Recovery of low temperature electron irradiation-induced damage in n-type gaas

Undoped n-type GaAa was irradiated near 5 and 77 °K with electrons having incident energies between 0.46 and 1.30 MeV. The recovery of the electrical resistivity and the Hall coefficient upon annealing from 4 to 520 °K was monitored. Changes which occurred upon annealing below 200 °K could be reversed by ionizing radiation. A small amount of irreversible ionization-induced recovery was observed after irradiation near 5 °K. Major irreversible recovery stages were centered near 235 (stage I), 280 (stage II) and 520 °K (stage III). Recovery in stage I and II obeyed first order kinetics. The activation energies of stages I and II were determined as 0.72 and 0.83 eV, respectively. The carrier concentration changes per unit irradiation dose corresponding to the three recovery stages differed in their energy dependence indicating that the defects which are removed in stage III have the lowest threshold energy. The carrier concentration changes per unit irradiation dose corresponding to stages I and III were higher for irradiation near 5 °K than for irradiation near 77 °K.