Investigation of optical properties of Ce3+-doped Gd2SiO5 crystal irradiated by a femtosecond laser

We report on the optical property changes for Ce3+-doped Gd2SiO5 crystal irradiated by a femtosecond (fs) laser. Absorption spectra showed that Ce-related color centers were formed in this crystal after an 800 nm fs laser irradiation. The annealing temperature-dependence of the refractive index and absorption intensity changes have been investigated. Furthermore, a new way of writing overlapped gratings inside the crystal by use of birefringence of fs laser beam in this crystal was proposed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Broadband infrared luminescence from Li2O-Al2O3-ZnO-SiO2 glasses doped with Bi2O3

The broadband emission in the 1.2 similar to 1.6 mu m region from Li2O-Al2O3-ZnO-SiO2 ( LAZS) glass codoped with 0.01mol.% Cr2O3 and 1.0mol.% Bi2O3 when pumped by the 808nm laser at room temperature is not initiated from Cr4+ ions, but from bismuth, which is remarkably different from the results reported by Batchelor et al. The broad similar to 1300nm emission from Bi2O3-containing LAZS glasses possesses a FWHM ( Full Width at Half Maximum) more than 250nm and a fluorescent lifetime longer than 500 mu s when excited by the 808nm laser. These glasses might have the potential applications in the broadly tunable lasers and the broadband fiber amplifiers. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Comparison of cerium-doped Lu2Si2O7 and Lu2SiO5 scintillators

In this paper, high optical quality cerium-doped lutetium pyrosilicate(LPS:Ce) crystal has been grown by Czochralski method with the seed oriented along cleavage plane (1 1 0). The structure, segregation coefficient of Ce3+ and optical characterization of LPS:Ce crystal have been compared with those of LSO:Ce crystal. The results show that LPS:Ce has the advantage over LSO:Ce by having a larger segregation coefficient of Ce3+, lower cost of starting material, lower melting point and only one luminescence mechanism. Thus, LPS:Ce crystal offers an attractive alternative to LSO:Ce for scintillator applications. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Investigations on bismuth and aluminum co-doped germanium oxide glasses for ultra-broadband optical amplification

The broadband luminescence covering 1.2-1.6 mu m was observed from bismuth and aluminum co-doped germanium oxide glasses pumped by 808 nm laser at room temperature. The spectroscopic properties of GeO2:Bi,Al glasses strongly depend on the glass compositions and the pumping sources. To a certain extent, the Al3+ ions play as dispersing reagent for the infrared-emission centers in the GeO2:Bi,Al glasses. The broad infrared luminescence with a full width at half maximum larger than 200 nm and a lifetime longer than 200 mu s possesses these glasses with the potential applications in broadly tunable laser sources and ultra-broadband fiber amplifiers in optical communication field. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of gamma irradiation and air annealing on Yb-doped YAlO3 single crystals

The effects of gamma irradiation on as-grown 5 at% Yb:YAlO3 (YAP) and air annealing on gamma-irradiated 5 at% Yb: YAP have been studied by the difference in the absorption spectra before and after treatment. The gamma irradiation and air annealing led to opposite changes of the absorption properties of the Yb: YAP crystal. After air annealing, the gamma-irradiation effects were totally removed over the wavelength range 390-800 nm and the concentrations of Fe3+ and Yb3+ were slightly increased. For the first time, the gamma-irradiation-induced valence changes between Yb3+ and Yb2+ ions in Yb: YAP crystals have been observed. (c) 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Preparation and spectroscopic properties of Er3+-doped high silica glass fabricated by sintering nanoporous glass

A compact nonporous high silica (SiO2 % > 96%) glass containing 3400 ppm Er3+ ions, which was about ten times higher than that in Er-doped silica fiber amplifier (EDSFA), was synthesized by sintering porous glass immersed into erbium nitrate solution. The 1532 nm fluorescence has a FWHM (Full Width at Half Maximum) of 45 nm wider than that of EDSFA and possesses the glass with potential application in broadband fiber amplifiers. The Judd-Ofelt theoretical analysis reflects that Er3+ ions are located in a higher covalent environment which are comparable to those of aluminosilicate glass. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preparation of crystalline beta barium borate thin films on Sr2+-doped alpha barium borate substrates by liquid phase epitaxy

Thin films of beta barium borate have been prepared by liquid phase epitaxy on Si2+-doped alpha-BaB2O4 (alpha-BBO, the high temperature phase of barium berate) (001) and (110) substrates. The results of X-ray diffraction indicate that the films show highly (001) preferred orientation on (001)-oriented substrates while the films grown on (110) substrates are textured with (140) orientation. The crystallinity of these films was found to depend on growth temperature, rotation rate, dip time and orientation of substrate. Growth conditions were optimized to grow films with (001) orientation on (001) substrates reproducibly. The films show second harmonic generation of 400 nm light upon irradiation with 800 nm Ti: Sapphire femtosecond laser light. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and magnetic properties of Ni-doped zinc oxide powders

Polycrystalline Zn1-xNixO diluted magnetic semiconductors have been successfully synthesized by an auto-combustion method. X-ray diffraction measurements indicated that the 5 at% Ni-cloped ZnO had the pure wurtzite structure. Refinements of cell parameters from powder diffraction data revealed that the cell parameters of Zn0.95Ni0.05O were a little bit larger than ZnO. Transmission electron microscopy observation showed that the as-synthesized powders were of the size similar to 60 nm. Magnetic investigations showed that the nanocystalline Zn0.95Ni0.05O possessed room temperature ferromagnetisin with the saturation magnetic moment of 0.1 emu/g (0.29 mu(B)/Ni2+). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Broadband near-infrared emission from transparent Ni2+-doped sodium aluminosilicate glass ceramics

Broadband neat-infrared emission from transparent Ni2+-doped sodium aluminosilicate glass-cermaics is observed. The broad emission is centered at 1290 nm and covers the whole telecommunication wavelength region (1100-1700 nm) with full width at half maximum of about 340 nm. The observed infrared emission could be attributed to the T-3(2)(F) -> (3)A(2)(F) transition of octahedral Ni2+ ions that occupy high-field sites in nanocrystals. The product of the lifetime and the stimulated emission cross section is 2.15 x 10(-24) cm(2)s. It is suggested that Ni2+-doped sodium aluminosilicate glass ceramics have potential applications in tunable broadband light sources and broadband amplifiers.

Spectroscopic properties of Nd3+-doped high silica glass prepared by sintering porous glass

A new kind of Nd3+, -doped high silica glass (SiO2 > 96% (mass fraction)) was obtained by sintering porous glass impregnated with Nd3+, ions. The absorption and luminescence properties of high silica glass doped with different Nd3+, concentrations were studied. The intensity parameters Omega(t) (t = 2, 4, 6), spontaneous emission probability, fluorescence lifetime, radiative quantum efficiency, fluorescence branching ratio, and stimulated emission cross section were calculated using the Judd-Ofelt theory. The optimal Nd3+ concentration in high silica glass was 0.27% (mole fraction) because of its high quantum efficiency and emission intensity. By comparing the spectroscopic parameters with other Nd3+ doped oxide glasses and commercial silicate glasses, the Nd3+-doped high silica glasses are likely to be a promising material used for high power and high repetition rate lasers.

High quantum efficiency and high concentration erbium-doped silica glasses fabricated by sintering nanoporous glasses

A new method was used to prepare erbium-doped high silica (SiO2% > 96%) glasses by sintering nanoporous glasses. The concentration of erbium ions in high silica glasses can be considerably more than that in silica glasses prepared by using conventional methods. The fluorescence of 1532 nm has an FWHM (Full Wave at Half Maximum) of 50 nm, wider than 35 nm of EDSFA (erbium-doped silica fiber amplifer), and hence the glass possesses potential application in broadband fiber amplifiers. The Judd-Ofelt theoretical analysis reflects that the quantum efficiency of this erbium-doped glass is about 0.78, although the erbium concentration in this glass (6 x 103) is about twenty times higher than that in silica glass. These excellent characteristics of Er-doped high silica glass will be conducive to its usage in optical amplifiers and microchip lasers.

Cooperative and charge transfer luminescence in Yb3+ -doped yttrium aluminum perovskite (YAlO3)

YAlO3 (YAP) crystals with different Yb3+ concentration have been grown by Czochralski method and cooperative fluorescence of Yb3+ ions in YAP crystal was studied under 940-nm infrared (IR) LD excitation at room temperature. The Yb concentration dependence of absorption intensity of IR and charge transfer bands exhibit different features. The green emission band in the region of 480-520nm was assigned to the cooperative deexcitation of two Yb3+ ions. The remaining upconverted emission bands containing various sharp peaks associated with impurity ions were observed and discussed. Charge transfer luminescence of heavily doped 20at% Yb:YAP is strongly temperature dependent and no concentration quenching of the charge transfer luminescence was found through the investigation of different Yb levels samples. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Czochralski growth and crystal structure of cerium-doped Lu2Si2O7 scintillator

Cerium-doped lutetium pyrosilicate crystal, Ce:Lu2Si2O7 (Ce:LPS), was grown by the Czochralski method. The segregation coefficient of Ce3+ ion was studied by the ICP-AES method. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the structure of Ce:LPS crystal was monoclinic symmetry with space group of C2/m. Perfect cleavage planes (110) and imperfect cleavage planes (001) were observed by optical microscope. The reasons why it is difficult to grow crack-free crystals were studied. After optimized growth parameters, a Ce:LPS crystal with dimension of Phi 25 x 30 mm was grown, which is colorless, high optical quality, cracking-free and no inclusions. The transmittance of Ce:LPS crystal from 380 to 800 nm is over 82% and there is no observable absorption. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of annealing and gamma irradiation on undoped and Eu3+-doped Y2SiO5 single crystals

The absorption spectra of the undoped Y2SiO5 and Eu3+-doped Y2SiO5 crystals grown by the Czochralski technique were compared before and after annealing and, similarly, the unannealed and annealed crystals after gamma-ray irradiation. The absorption bands of Eu2+ ions with peaks at 300 and 390 nm were observed in the as-grown Y2SiO5:Eu3+ crystal. These peaks were more intense in H-2-annealed and irradiated Y2SiO5:Eu3+ crystals. The additional absorption peaks at 260 and 320-330 nm which were attributed to F color centers and O- hole centers were observed in irradiated undoped Y2SiO5 and Y2SiO5:Eu3+ crystals, respectively. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectra analysis of a novel Ti-doped LiAlO2 single crystal

LiAlO2 single crystals doped with Ti at concentration 0.2 at.% are grown by the Czochralskl technique with dimensions Phi 42 x 55 mm. Ti ions in the crystal are quadrivalence proven by comparing the absorption and fluorescence spectra of pure LiAlO2 and Ti: LiAlO2. After air and Li-rich atmosphere annealing, the absorption peaks in the range of 600-800nm disappear. We conclude that 682 and 756nm absorption peaks are attributed to the V-Li and V-O absorptions, respectively. The peaks at 716nm and 798nm may stem from the V-Li(+) and F+ absorptions. The colour-centre model can be applied to explain the experimental phenomena. Ti4+-doping produces more lithium vacancies in the LiAlO2 crystal. The intensities of [LiO4] and the associated bonds remain unchanged, which improves the anti-hydrolyzation and thermal stability of LiAlO2 crystals.