Polarized spectroscopic properties of Ho-doped LuLiF4 single crystal for 2 μm and 2.9 μm lasers

Polarized spectroscopic properties of a Ho³⁺-doped LuLiF₄ (Ho:LuLF) single crystal grown by the Czochralski method have been investigated as a promising material for 2 μm and 2.9 μm lasers. The Judd-Ofelt (J-O) model has been applied to the analysis of the polarized room temperature absorption spectra to establish the so-called J-O intensity parameters. Based on the calculated parameters, we determined the emission probabilities, branching ratio and radiative lifetime for the Ho³⁺ transitions from the excited state manifolds to the lower-lying manifolds. Ho:LuLF crystal shows long fluorescence lifetime of ⁵I₇ manifold (16 ms) and broad absorption and emission spectra, which exhibit strong polarization characteristics. Stimulated emission cross-sections spectra of the ⁵I₆ → ⁵I₇ and ⁵I₇ → ⁵I₈ transitions were derived and compared with those of the other well-known Ho³⁺-doped laser crystals.     

Crystal growth and characterization of Ho-doped Lu3Ga5O12 for 2 μm laser

Ho:LuGG single crystal was successfully grown by the Czochralski growth method, and its lattice parameter was found to be 12.2371 Å. Its thermal conductivity was measured to be 5.29 W mK⁻¹ at 300 K. Meanwhile, transmission spectra were recorded at room temperature, and then its absorption spectra were obtained combining with the transmission spectra of LuGG crystal. The transition intensity parameters Ω_t (t = 2, 4, 6), the oscillator strengths, fluorescence branching ratios, transition probabilities and the lifetimes of Ho³⁺ in LuGG crystal were all evaluated by the Judd–Ofelt theory. Furthermore, its emission spectra were also determined and analyzed.     

The 1.53 μm spectroscopic properties of Er3+/Ce3+/Yb3+ tri-doped tellurite glasses containing silver nanoparticles

The metallic silver nanoparticles (NPs) was introduced into the Er³⁺/Ce³⁺/Yb³⁺ tri-doped tellurite glasses with composition TeO₂–ZnO–La₂O₃ to improve the 1.53 μm band fluorescence. The UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectra, 1.53 μm band fluorescence spectra, fluorescence lifetimes, X-ray diffraction (XRD) curves, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) curves and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of tri-doped tellurite glasses were measured, together with the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters, emission cross-sections, absorption cross-sections and radiative quantum efficiencies were calculated to investigate the effects of silver NPs on the 1.53 μm band spectroscopic properties of Er³⁺ ions, structural nature and thermal stability of glass hosts. It is shown that Er³⁺/Ce³⁺/Yb³⁺ tri-doped tellurite glasses can emit intense 1.53 μm band fluorescence through the combined energy transfer (ET) processes from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ ions and Er³⁺ to Ce³⁺ ions under the 980 nm excitation. At the same time, the introduction of an appropriate amount of silver NPs can further improve the 1.53 μm band fluorescence owing to the enhanced local electric field effect induced by localized surface Plasmon resonance (LSPR) of silver NPs and the possible energy transfer from silver NPs to Er³⁺ ions, and an improvement by about 120% of fluorescence intensity is found in the studied Er³⁺/Ce³⁺/Yb³⁺ tri-doped tellurite glass containing 0.5 mol% amount of silver NPs with average diameter of ∼15 nm. The energy transfer mechanisms from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ ions and Er³⁺ to Ce³⁺ ions were also quantitatively investigated by calculating energy transfer microparameters and phonon contribution ratios. Furthermore, the thermal stability of glass host increases slightly with the introduction of silver NPs while the glass structure maintains the amorphous nature. The results indicate that the prepared Er³⁺/Ce³⁺/Yb³⁺ tri-doped tellurite glass with an appropriate amount of silver NPs is an excellent gain medium applied for 1.53 μm band EDFA pumped with a 980 nm laser diode (LD).     

Manipulation and welding of metal spheres above 10 μm using needle-like probe

A needle-like probe is the simplest tool to manipulate fine spheres. It catches fine spheres by adhesion forces without any holding device. Metallic spheres of 10–100 μm are difficult to manipulate with the needle-like probe, because the gravity rivals the adhesion forces in the dynamics of the spheres. Large and heavy spheres arranged on a substrate are easily disturbed because of the same reason. Here, a manipulator equipped with a direct power source, which applies voltage to the probe, is fabricated. Large and heavy spheres are adhered by the controllable electrostatic force. Besides the manipulation, the apparatus is designed to weld the spheres by using the probe as electrode for spot/arc welding. Experiments on the manipulation showed that the probe caught gold spheres of 40–80 μm by applying 20–50 V and released by putting them down after cutting the power off. Following to manipulation, welding experiments were carried out at various conditions. Two power sources, a high-voltage and low-current power source and a low-voltage and high-current power source, and two welding methods, arc welding and spot welding, are examined. The experiments showed that the gold spheres of 40–80 μm can be welded by the spot welding using the high-voltage and low-current power source, of which maximum power rating is 10 kV×1 mA. The probe is kept to touch the sphere and 4 kV or more is applied. Electric sparks are generated at the interface of the probe and the substrate, and the sphere is welded to the substrate. In both the manipulation and welding, the contact pressure must be very low. A tower of gold spheres is fabricated as an example of three-dimensional microstructures composed of fine spheres.     

Graphene-GaAs-graphene stacked layers for the improvement of the transmission at the wavelength of 1.55 μm

Transmission filter operating at the wavelength of 1.55 μm and based on stacked graphene-GaAs-graphene layers separated by air gaps is presented. By using the transfer matrix method (TMM), we show that the addition of a graphene layer at each interface of a GaAs-based stratified structure, which initially exhibit only 30% transmission at 1.55 μm, allows the active control of the transmission by the adjustment of the graphene chemical potential. Transmission of almost 100% at the wavelength of 1.55 μm is achieved after addition of graphene layers. These results show the potential role of stacked graphene-GaAs-graphene layers in the development of new optical active communications devices.     

Electronic structure of Cu100−xZrx (x = 40, 50, 60) metallic glasses

The electronic structure of Cu_100−xZr_x (x = 40, 50, 60) metallic glasses was investigated by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, the valence band spectra of these alloys were analyzed by a large shift of the Cu d-band peaks to higher binding energies upon increasing Cu content. Photoemission experiments and first-principles calculations prove that the values of density of states at Fermi level of Cu_100−xZr_x metallic glasses are mainly dominated by Zr rather than Cu. This work will enlighten further research on understanding the inheritance of metallic glasses and designing new metallic glasses with unique properties.     

Study on I-V Behavior of YBCO Film on 5 mm × 10 mm LAO Under DC Pulse by Electric Transport Method

Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism - A set of DC pulse devices was built to measure the 5 mm?×?10 mm YBCO sheet in order to evaluate the impact of...     

Spectroscopic investigations on Eu3+ ions in Li–K–Zn fluorotellurite glasses

Eu³⁺ ions incorporated Li–K–Zn fluorotellurite glasses, (70 − x)TeO₂ + 10Li₂O + 10K₂O + 10ZnF₂ + xEu₂O₃, (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 2 mol%) were prepared via melt quenching technique. Optical absorption from ⁷F₀ and ⁷F₁ levels of the Eu³⁺-doped glass has been studied to examine the covalent bonding characteristics, energy band gap and Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters. The emission spectra (⁵D₀ → ⁷F_0,1,2,3,4) of the glasses were used to estimate the luminescence enhancement, asymmetric environment in the vicinity of Eu³⁺ ions, stimulated emission cross section and branching ratios. The phonon side band mechanism of ⁵D₂ level of the Eu³⁺ ions in the prepared glass was examined by considering the excitation and Raman spectra. The radiative lifetime calculated using Judd–Ofelt parameters was compared with the experimental lifetime to estimate the quantum efficiency of ⁵D₀ level of Eu³⁺ ions in Li–K–Zn fluorotellurite glass.     

Visible luminescence properties of Er3+–Pr3+ codoped fluorotellurite glasses

Er³⁺ and Pr³⁺ codoped fluorotellurite glasses has been synthesized. The PL spectrum revealed that the intensity of Er³⁺ characteristic emission was enhanced as Pr³⁺ concentration increased. Due to small mismatch between the energy level of Er³⁺: ⁴F_7/2 and Pr³⁺: ³P₀ resonant energy was possibly transferred between them. While Pr³⁺ concentration kept increasing, both Pr³⁺ and Er³⁺ concentration quenching occurred. These glasses with the controllable CIE coordinates might be a potential candidate for the widely application such as solid state multicolor display.     

Measuring spectral transmission and refractive index of AgCl1−xBrx (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) and Ag1−xTlxBr1−xIx (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.05) at the wavelength of 10.6 μm

We measured the complex refractive index at the wavelength of 10.6 μm with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for polycrystalline plates of the following compositions AgCl_1−xBr_x (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) and Ag_1−xTl_xBr_1−xI_x, where x varied from 0 to 0.05. In order to do it we chose a segment of the spectrum, which was recorded with a high resolution (0.5 cm⁻¹) using the HgCdTe detector and which had a set of 10 identical peaks. It is shown that the real part of the refractive index rises along with increasing the substituting component fraction in the solid solution from 1.99 to 2.17 for AgCl_1−xBr_x and from 2.17 to 2.24 within the range of TlI mole fraction up to 0.05 for Ag_1−xTl_xBr_1−xI_x. We considered errors introduced by the spectrometer resolution and the accuracy rating of the micrometer, which was used to measure sample thickness. It is seen in the spectra, recorded for the second system with a lower resolution and using a deuterated and l-alanine doped triglycine sulfate detector, that increasing the thallium monoiodide fraction results in widening the transmission range towards bigger wavelengths. We also plan to use the obtained refractive index values for simulating mid-infrared optical fibers, the polycrystalline structure of which is close to the structure of the plates under investigation.     

Luminescence at 2.8 μm: Er3+-doped chalcogenide micro-waveguide

This paper reports the fabrication of luminescent optical rib/ridge waveguides made of erbium doped Ga-Ge-Sb-S films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering. Several fluorescence emissions of Er³⁺ ions from the visible to the middle infrared spectral domain were clearly observed within the films. The study of the ⁴I_13/2 level lifetime enabled development of a suitable annealing treatment of the films to reach the value of the bulk counterpart while the variation in surface roughness was limited, thus ensuring reasonable optical losses (0.7–0.9 dB/cm). Amplification experiments were carried out at 1.54 μm leading to complete characterization of the erbium-doped micro-waveguide with ∼3.4 dB/cm on/off gain. A demonstration of mid-IR photoluminescence from Er³⁺-doped chalcogenide micro-waveguide was recorded at ∼2.76 μm. The multi-luminescence from the visible to mid-IR generated using erbium doped chalcogenide waveguiding micro-structures might find easy-to-use applications concerning telecommunication technologies or on-chip optical sensors for which luminescent sources or amplifiers operating at different wavelengths are required.     

2 μm emission properties and hydroxy groups quenching of Tm3+ in germanate-tellurite glass

Tm³⁺ activated germanate-tellurite glasses with good thermal stability and anti-crystallization ability were prepared. Efficient 2 μm fluorescence was observed in the optimal concentration Tm³⁺ doped glass and the corresponding radiative properties were investigated. For Tm³⁺: ³F₄ → ³H₆ transition, high spontaneous radiative transition probability (260.75 s⁻¹) and large emission cross section (7.66 × 10⁻²¹ cm²) were obtained from the prepared glass. According to Dexter's and Forster's theory, energy transfer microscopic parameters were computed to elucidate the observed 2 μm emissions in detail. Besides, the effect of hydroxy groups quenching was also quantificationally investigated based on simplified rate equations. Results demonstrate that the optimal concentration Tm³⁺ doped germanate-tellurite glass possessing excellent spectroscopic properties might be an attractive candidate for 2 μm laser or amplifier.     

Synthesis and characterization of chalcogenide glasses from the system Ga-Ge-Sb-S and preparation of a single-mode fiber at 1.55 μm

The aim of this work is to study different compositions in the Ga-Ge-Sb-S system for the definition of two compositions compatible with the elaboration of a single-mode fiber at the 1.55 μm telecom wavelength. The variations of the glass transition temperature (T_g), the dilatation coefficient (α) and the refractive index (n) have been studied for two glasses series: Ga_xGe_25−xSb₁₀S₆₅ (series 1), Ga₅Ge_25−xSb₁₀S_60+x (series 2). This study has lead to the choice of the Ga₄Ge₂₁Sb₁₀S₆₅ composition as clad glass for the preparation of the single-mode fiber and Ga₅Ge₂₀Sb₁₀S₆₅ composition as the core. The discrepancies for the studied parameters between the core and clad compositions are the following: Δα < 2%, ΔT_g < 3% and Δn = 5 × 10⁻³. Finally a single-mode fiber has been prepared by the rod in tube technique.     

Structural and electrical properties of high-quality 0.41 μm-thick InSb films grown on GaAs (1 0 0) substrate with InxAl1−xSb continuously graded buffer

High-quality InSb was grown on a GaAs (1 0 0) substrate with an InAlSb continuously graded buffer (CGB). The temperatures of In, Al K-cells and substrate were modified during the growth of InAlSb CGB. The cross-section TEM image reveals that the defects due to lattice-mismatch disappear near lateral structures in CGB. The measured electron mobility of 0.41 μm-thick InSb was 46,300 cm²/Vs at 300 K. These data surpass the electron mobility of state-of-the-art InSb grown by other methods with similar thickness of InSb.     

Enhanced emission of 2.7 μm from Er3+/Nd3+-codoped LiYF4 single crystals

An Er³⁺/Nd³⁺ co-doped LiYF₄ single crystal of ～Φ 12 mm × 95 mm size with high quality was grown by a Bridgman method. The luminescent properties of the crystals with different Er³⁺ and Nd³⁺ concentrations were studied. Compared with the Er³⁺ single-doped LiYF₄ crystal extremely enhanced emission at 2.7 μm from the Er³⁺/Nd³⁺ co-doped LiYF₄ was observed upon excitation of an 800 nm laser diode. Meanwhile, the green up-conversion emission and near infrared emission at 1.5 μm from Er³⁺ in the co-doped crystals were effectively restricted. The luminescent mechanisms for the Er³⁺/Nd³⁺ co-doped crystals were analyzed and the possible energy transfer processes were proposed. The energy transfer efficiencies for (Er³⁺:⁴I_13/2, Nd³⁺:⁴I_9/2) → (Er³⁺:⁴I_15/2, Nd³⁺:⁴I_15/2) and (Nd³⁺:⁴F_3/2, Er³⁺:⁴I_15/2) → (Nd³⁺:⁴I_9/2, Er³⁺:⁴I_9/2) were calculated. It was found that Er³⁺/Nd³⁺ co-doped single crystal may be a potential host for 2.7 μm lasers.     

Study on the microstructure and electrochemical kinetic properties of MmNi4.50−xMnxCo0.45Al0.30 (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.45) hydrogen storage alloys

The phase structures, surface morphologies and electrochemical kinetic properties of MmNi_4.50?xMn_xCo_0.45Al_0.30 (Mm is the mischmetal, x = 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40 and 0.45) hydrogen storage alloys have been investigated in this paper. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that all the alloys mainly consist of LaNi₅ phase with CaCu₅-type structure, which belongs to P6/mmm space group (central symmetry). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests indicate that there are partial element segregations in the alloys. Meanwhile, energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) results display that the elements constituting Mm exist in the matrix phase in relatively larger proportion, while Mn, Al and Co tend to appear in precipitate phase. For the alloy with x = 0.35, the electrochemical performances, including discharge capacity, high-rate dischargeability (HRD) and cycling life, of the alloy electrode are better than that of other alloy electrodes. With the increase of Mn content, the exchange current density (I₀) of the alloy electrodes first increases and then decreases, the hydrogen diffusion coefficient (D) of alloy electrodes gradually decreases. There is a linear correlation between HRD at a discharge current density of 1500 mA/g and I₀.     

Continuous-wave lasing at 1.06 μm in femtosecond laser written Nd:KGW waveguides

We report on the buried channel waveguide laser at 1065 nm in Nd:KGW waveguides fabricated by femtosecond laser writing with dual-line approach. A relatively high scanning speed of 0.5 mm/s enables acceptable propagation loss less than 2 dB/cm. The fluorescence emission spectra of Nd³⁺ ions measured shows that the fluorescence properties were well preserved in the waveguide region. A stable continuous wave laser at 1065 nm has been obtained at room temperature in the buried channel waveguides by optical pumping at 808 nm. A maximum output power of 33 mW and a slope efficiency of 52.3% were achieved in the Nd:KGW waveguide laser system.     

Density functional theories study on the properties of Ga1 − xCrxAs

The structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of Ga_1 − xCr_xAs (x = 0, 6.25%, 12.5%) have been studied by first-principles calculations based on the HSE hybrid density functional theories. The optical properties, including the complex dielectric function, optical refractive index, extinction coefficient and absorption coefficient are discussed for radiation up to 15 eV. The results predicate that the system of Ga_1 − xCr_xAs exhibits typical half-metallic properties, in which Cr forms deep levels in the forbidden band and reduces the energy gap, increases static dielectric constant and obviously red-shifts the absorption edge. With the increase of the fraction of Cr, the material gradually exhibits noticeable anisotropy in the photon energy range of 0–5 eV. In addition, the p-d hybridization reduces the magnetic moment of Cr from its free space charge value of 3 μ_B and a smaller atomic magnetic moments of As and Ga atoms are generated.     

Creating terahertz pulses from titanium-doped lithium niobate-based strip waveguides with 1.55 μm light

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - We demonstrate that terahertz radiation can be generated from titanium-diffused magnesium oxide-doped lithium niobate optical strip...