Two-step K(+)-Na+ and Ag(+)-Na+ ion-exchanged glass waveguides for C-band applications

A two-step K(+)-Na+ and Ag(+)-Na+ ion-exchange technique is introduced to fabricate single-mode channel waveguides in BK7 glass for the telecom-wavelength region. The dependencies of insertion loss, polarization-dependent loss (PDL), end bending loss of curved waveguides on channel width, diffusion time, and annealing time are investigated. Results show that postannealing is a required process for improving waveguide properties and an optimal annealing time exists. Although relatively narrow mask openings are used in most one-step ion-exchange processes, a wider channel width, to as wide as 10 microm, is preferred for this two-step method. The minimum coupling loss to/from single-mode fiber and the propagation loss is found to be 0.4 dB and 0.3 dB/cm, respectively. For 5-cm-long waveguides the PDL is less than 0.1 dB. For the S-bend structure the cosine curve exhibit apparently a lower bending loss than the double-arc curve.     

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.     

Photoluminescence and energy transfer study of Er3+ and Dy3+ codoped tellurite glasses

Photoluminescence properties of the Er(3+)-Dy3+ codoped tellurite glasses were studied by absorption and visible emission spectra, which revealed luminescence bands of both Er3+ and Dy3+ when pumping with the wavelength of 325 nm. The concentration quenching occurred as Dy3+ concentration increased beyond 3 mol%. The dependence of Er3+ characteristic emission on Dy3+ concentration indicated energy transfer process between Er3+ and Dy3+. The chromaticity coordinates of these glasses are close to white light, which implies that these glasses might be potential candidates for white lighting through an appropriate combination.     

Optical high temperature sensor based on enhanced green upconversion emissions in Er3+-Yb3+-Li+ codoped TiO2 powders

The Er3+-Yb3+-Li+ codoped TiO2 powders have been prepared by sol-gel method. The strong enhancement of green and red upconversion emissions were obtained for Er3+-Yb3+ codoped TiO2 by additional Li+ codoping and investigated using 976 nm semiconductor laser diode excitation. The enhanced upconversion emissions by the addition of Li+ resulted from the formation of Li compound with lower crystal field symmetry. The fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) of green upconversion emissions from the transitions of 2H(11/2) --> 4I(15/2) and 4S(3/2) --> 4I(15/2) of Er3+ in the Er3+-Yb3+-Li+ codoped TiO2 has been studied as a function of temperature in the range of 300-925 K, and the maximum sensitivity was determined to be 0.0025 K(-1). Er3+-Yb3+-Li+ codoped TiO2 material with the highest operating temperature up to 925 K, has higher temperature sensitivity and fluorescence efficiency being a promising candidate for applications in optical high temperature sensor.     

Duty cycle ratio dependence on the performance of a q-switched laser with an Er3+-Yb3+ codoped glass waveguide

We examine the performance of a hybrid Q-switched LiNbO(3) and Er(3+)-Yb(3+) doped glass waveguide laser as a modulation function of the duty cycle ratio. As the duty cycle ratio decreases, the laser operates at higher peak power and pulse width. At low duty cycle ratio (<1%), we observe variations in the Q-switched pulse shape; while the laser produces 59-W and 200-ns pulses to a 1-kHz repetition rate for a 50% duty cycle, it yields 27-W and 100-ns pulses to a 10-kHz repetition rate for a 0.01% duty cycle.     

Energy transfer processes in (Er3+–Yb3+)-codoped germanate glasses for mid-infrared and up-conversion applications

Luminescence characteristics of Er³⁺-activated, Yb³⁺-sensitised GeO₂–Na₂O–Nb₂O₅ heavy metal germanate glasses have been investigated in the context of searching active media for laser devices. Optical absorption, emission spectra and decay time measurements have been performed at room temperature on these materials. Intense 1540 nm infrared fluorescence and visible emission bands at 533, 554, and 660 nm were observed under continuous wave excitation at 980 nm.An efficient energy transfer from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ ions, increasing as a function of Yb³⁺ concentration, favours the Er³⁺ 1.54 μm eye-safe laser emission in these materials.The power dependence study of the upconverted emissions gives evidence of a bi-photonic process. Moreover, the Yb³⁺ codoping enhances the up-conversion efficiency. Decay time measurements have been examined in the purpose of elucidating the possible mechanisms involved in this process.The experimental results are in good agreement with an effective Yb³⁺-to-Er³⁺ nonradiative energy transfer.     

Planar waveguides formed by Ag+-Na+ ion exchange in nonlinear optical glasses: diffusion and optical properties

All-optical communication systems are the subject of intense research related to the integration of nonlinear optical materials. In sodiocalcic borophosphate glasses that contain niobium oxide and exhibit high nonlinear optical indices, planar waveguides have been formed by a Ag(+)-Na(+) ion-exchange technique. WKB analysis has been used to characterize the diffusion profiles of silver ions exchanged in glass substrate samples chemically by an electron microprobe technique and optically by an M-line technique. These methods permit the Ag(+) penetration depth and diffusion profile shape and index profiles to be determined. The results are analyzed and discussed in relation to Ca(2+) concentration and exchange conditions in glasses. The Ag(+) diffusion in these glasses can be almost entirely controlled for index-profile engineering.     

Ion-exchanged waveguide lasers in Er3+/Yb3+ codoped silicate glass

We investigated an Er(3+)/Yb(3+) codoped silicate glass as a host material for waveguide lasers operating near 1.5 mum. Spectroscopic properties of the glass are reported. Waveguide lasers were fabricated by K(+)-ion exchange from a nitrate melt. The waveguides support a single transverse mode at 1.5 mum. An investigation of the laser performance as a function of the Yb:Er ratio was performed, indicating an optimal ratio of approximately 5:1. Slope efficiencies of as great as 6.5% and output powers as high as 19.6 mW at 1.54 mum were realized. The experimental results are compared with a waveguide laser model that is used to extract the Er(3+) upconversion coefficients and the Yb(3+)-Er(3+) cross-relaxation coefficients. The results indicate the possibility of obtaining high-performance waveguide lasers from a durable silicate host glass.     

Absorption and emission cross sections of Er(3+) in Al(2)O(3) waveguides

Al(2)O(3) slab waveguide films were doped with erbium using ion implantation to a peak concentration of 1.5 at. %. Prism coupling measurements show absorption caused by (4)I (15/2) ?(4)I (13/2) intra-4f transitions in Er(3+) with a maximum at 1.530 mum of 8 dB/cm. The Er(3+) absorption cross section is determined as a function of wavelength. We used the McCumber theory to derive the emission cross section spectrum from the absorption results, which we then compared with the Er(3+) photoluminescence spectrum. The peak absorption and emission cross sections are found to be 6 x 10(-21) cm(-2). The results are used to predict the optical gain performance of an Er-doped Al(2)O(3) optical amplifier that operates around 1.5 mum.     

Thermal and light emission properties of rare earth (Eu3+, Dy3+ and Er3+), alkali (Li+, Na+ and K+) and Al3+-doped barium tellurite and boro-tellurite glasses

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - The effects of rare earth, alkali and Al ions on the thermal, short-range structure, optical absorption and emission properties of barium...     

Improving 1.54 μm emission by inducting Ti ion in Er3+/Yb3+ codoped phosphate glass ceramic

Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ doped phosphate glasses were prepared by high-temperature melting method. Under 975 nm excitation, the intensity of the visible light in the sample doped with TiO₂ is weaker compared to that of the sample un-doped with TiO₂ However, the intensity of the 1540 nm emission in the sample doped with TiO₂ is stronger than that in the sample un-doped with TiO₂ The sample can efficiently improve the 1540 nm emission by absorbing visible light.     

Diffusion process applied in fabrication of ion-exchanged optical waveguides in novel Er3+ and Er3+/Yb3+-doped silicate glasses

Planar optical waveguides fabricated in erbium doped glasses are promising photonics components operating at 1.5 μm, above all as optical amplifiers or waveguide lasers. In this study we focused on the influence of chemical compositions of Er³⁺ and Er³⁺/Yb³⁺-doped silicate glasses on the properties important for the sought applications, i.e., waveguiding and spectroscopic properties of the fabricated waveguides. Optical waveguides were fabricated by routine K⁺ ↔ Na⁺ ion exchange in a set of the glasses that had various contents of the RE ions. Waveguiding properties were studied by means of Dark Mode Spectroscopy at 671 nm while the chemical composition of the waveguides was determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDAX). Surface concentrations of the lasing RE ions were determined by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) and related to the resultant photoluminescence properties. On the bases of the obtained experimental results the relations between composition of the substrates, especially content of the active ions, and experimental procedures will be presented with regards to real fabrication processes. Diffusion processes will be characterized by diffusion coefficients.     

Properties of Er3+-doped phosphate glasses and glass fibres and efficient infrared to visible upconversion

Some thermomechanical properties such as expansion, transition temperature and high-temperature viscosity of phosphate glasses with different P₂O₅ and BaO compositions have been measured. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of the phosphate glasses with different Er³⁺ doping have also been measured. The Er³⁺ doping concentration with respect to the maximal fluorescence intensity is 0.75 mol %. The attenuation of the fibre at a wavelength of 1.53 m is 12.8 db m^–1. Upconversion of 1.064 m NdYAG laser pulses into intense green 547 and 667 nm light in the 0.75 mol % Er³⁺-doped phosphate glass fibre has been achieved. The output power of the two fluorescence signals of green 547 nm and red 667 nm are 178 and 42 W, respectively, with an upconversion efficiency of 1.78×10^–2% and 4.2×10^–3% respectively.     

Thermal stability and optical transition of Er3+ in sodium-lead-germanate glasses

The thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of Er³⁺-doped Na₂O-GeO₂-PbO glasses were investigated experimentally. The thermal analysis results show that the thermal stability of the investigated glasses is improved with replacing GeO₂ by PbO. Subsequently, Judd-Ofelt (J-O) approach was applied to the room temperature absorption of Er³⁺ (4f ¹¹) transitions to determine J-O intensity parameters. The reduced values of ₂ with the substitution of PbO for GeO₂ indicate the decrease of covalency of Er—O bonding. The stimulated emission cross section of the ⁴ I _13/2 ⁴ I _15/2 transition increases as a consequence of the increase of refractive index of glass hosts and the narrowing of fluorescence bandwidth with the increase of PbO. The abnormal large emission cross section and large bandwidth in the Na₂O-0.8GeO₂-0.1PbO glass arises from the change of germanium coordination with oxygen.     

Relationship between the local structure and spontaneous emission probability of Er3+ in silicate,borate, and phosphate glasses

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements have been performed on Er³¹ in silicate, borate, and phosphate glasses in order to investigate the local structure surrounding the Er³¹.Er³¹ ions coordinate to non-bridging oxygen ion sites, where alkali or alkaline earth ions terminate the network structure of silicate glasses. In borate glasses, the local structure surrounding Er³¹ ions is altered by the structural change ofthe borate anion. Er³¹ ions coordinate to non-bridging oxygen ion sites and BO₄ structural units in the cases with and without the formation of non-bridging oxygen, respectively. The former is similar to the case in silicate glasses. Er³¹ ions selectively coordinate to the PyO site regardless of the glass composition variation. A correlation was observed between the spontaneous emission probability for ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺ and the average Er–O distance calculated by EXAFS analysis. It shows the maximum value near 2.32 Å, and we conclude that the overlapping radial integral of the 4f and 5d orbitals of Er³⁺ would be the largest at the optimum Er³¹– O²² distance 2.3 Å.     

Spectroscopic properties of Pr3+ and Er3+ ions in lead-free borate glasses modified by BaF2

Lead-free oxyfluoride borate glasses singly doped with Pr³⁺ and Er³⁺ were prepared and next investigated using absorption and luminescence spectroscopy. In the studied glass system, barium oxide was substituted by BaF₂. Two luminescence bands of Pr³⁺ located at visible spectral region are observed, which correspond to ³P₀–³H₄ (blue) and ¹D₂–³H₄ (reddish orange) transitions, respectively. The luminescence bands due to ¹D₂–³H₄ transition of Pr³⁺ are shifted to shorter wavelengths, when BaO was substituted by BaF₂. Near-infrared luminescence spectra of Er³⁺ ions in lead-free borate glasses modified by BaF₂ correspond to ⁴I_13/2–⁴I_15/2 transition. Their spectral linewidths increase with increasing BaF₂ concentration. The changes in measured lifetimes of rare earth ions are well correlated with the bonding parameters calculated from the optical absorption spectra.     

Diode-Pumped Violet Energy Upconversion in BaF(2):Er(3+)

Under 805-nm diode-laser excitation we detected intense upconversion signals at 410, 380, and 275 nm in BaF(2):Er(3+). Energy upconversion schemes and efficiencies are discussed in detail. Intensity parameters of Er(3+) in BaF(2) were derived as Omega(2) = 1.048 ? 0.117 x 10(-20) cm(2), Omega(4) = 1.478 ? 0.180 x 10(-20) cm(2), and Omega(6) = 1.009 ? 0.127 x 10(-20) cm(2).     

Holographic image storage in eu(3+)-doped alkali aluminosilicate glasses

We demonstrate that holographic information can be stored in Eu(3+)-doped alkali aluminosilicate glasses. The holograms were developed by a two-beam mixing configuration with a write-beam wavelength (465.8 nm) corresponding to the (7)F(0) ? (5)D(0) transition of the Eu(3+) ions. The images were reconstructed either with the wavelength used to record them or with wavelengths below this transition (543.5 and 632.8 nm). We stored clear holographic images using a total writing power of 5 mW and an exposure time of 20 s. In addition, clear holograms were recorded with an exposure time of 200 ms when 100 mW of the writing power was used. The exposure time and the writing power required to obtain clear holographic images are dependent on the Eu(3+) concentration.     

Er~(3+)/Yb~(3+)共掺四种玻璃中上转换发光效率的比较及研究

计算了在Er3+/Yb3+共掺的硅酸盐、锗酸盐、磷酸盐和氟化物这四种玻璃基质中施主离子归一化荧光线形函数与受主离子归一化吸收线形函数的重叠积分,交叉弛豫几率.通过求解能级跃迁速率方程,得出4S3/2能级的相对布居数.定义了上转换发光效率可以用自发辐射跃迁几率A61和4S3/2能级的相对布居数之积来表征.分析了由于氟化物中4S3/2能级的无辐射跃迁几率较小而自发辐射跃迁几率较大,因此4S3/2能级有较大的相对布居数,在四种Er3+/Yb3+共掺的玻璃中,氟化物具有较好的上转换发光效率.     

Broadband NIR emission in sol-gel Er(3+)-activated SiO2-Ta2O5 glass ceramic planar and channel waveguides for optical application

An Er(3+)-doped SiO2:Ta2O5 optical channel waveguide and nanocomposite were prepared by the sol-gel route at a Si:Ta 50:50 molar ratio. Channels with an excellent surface profile were easily and quickly fabricated by focusing a femtosecond laser onto the surface of multilayered films deposited on SiO2/Si substrates. In parallel, the same sol used to prepare the film was annealed at 900, 1000, and 1100 degrees C for 2 h, to get the nanocomposite materials. A broadband NIR emission around 1538 nm, assigned to the 4I13/2 --> 4I15/2 transition of the Er3+ ions was observed in the nanocomposites of amorphous SiO2 containing dispersed Ta2O5 nanocrystals. The 4I13/2 lifetime and emission bandwidth depend on the annealing temperature. In conclusion, Er(3+)-doped SiO2:Ta2O5 channel waveguides and nanocomposites are promising materials for photonic applications.