Efficient tunable diode-pumped Yb : LYSO laser

We demonstrated efficient laser action of a new ytterbium-doped oxyorthosilicate crystal Yb:LuYSiO5 ( Yb: LYSO) under high-power diode-pumping. The spectroscopic features and laser performance of the alloyed oxyorthosilicate crystal are compared with those of ytterbium-doped lutetium and yttrium oxyorthosilicates. In the continuous-wave laser operation of Yb: LYSO, a maximal slope efficiency of 96% and output power of 7.8 W were respectively achieved with different pump sources. The Yb: LYSO laser exhibits not only little sensitivity to the pump wavelength drift but also a broad tunability. By using a dispersive prism as the intracavity tuning element, we demonstrated that the continuous-wave Yb: LYSO laser exhibit a continuous tunability in the spectral range of 1014-1091 nm. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

Infrared (1.2-1.6 mu m) luminescence in Yb, Cr : YAG with 940 nm diode pumping

Infrared (1.2-1.6 mum) luminescence in a yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) crystal, co-doped with Yb (10 at.%) and Cr (0.05 at.%) ions, was investigated under CW laser diode pumping (lambda = 940 nm). The Cr4+ emission band was observed with its peak at 1.35 mum and measured to be about 6% with respect to Yb3+ IR luminescence (lambda = 1.03 mum). Analysis of the crystal absorption and luminescence spectra allows one to conclude that Yb3+-Cr4+ energy transfer is a mechanism responsible for the B-3(2)(T-3(2))-B-3(1)((3)A(2)) emission of Cr4+ ions. This crystal is promising as an efficient source of the near infrared emission. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Upconversion luminescence in Yb3+-doped yttrium aluminum garnets

In this paper, we present results on upconversion luminescence performed on Yb3+-doped yttrium aluminum garnets under 940 nm excitation. The upconversion luminescence was ascribed to Yb3+ cooperative luminescence and the presence of rare earth impurity ions. The cooperative luminescence spectra as a function of Yb concentration were measured and the emission intensity variation with Yb concentration was discussed. Yb3+ energy migration quenched the cooperative luminescence of Yb:YAG crystals with doping level over 15 at%. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Upconversion luminescence from E-2 state of Cr3+ in Al2O3 crystal by infrared femtosecond laser irradiation

Visible upconversion luminescence was observed in Cr3+: Al2O3 crystal under focused femtosecond laser irradiation. The luminescence spectra show that the upconversion luminescence originates from the E-2-(4)A(2) transition of Cr3+. The dependence of the fluorescence intensity of Cr3+ on the pump power reveals that a two-photon absorption process dominates in the conversion of infrared radiation to the visible emission. It is suggested that the simultaneous absorption of two infrared photons produces the population of upper excited states, which leads to the characteristic visible emission from E-2 state of Cr3+.

Infrared broadband emission of bismuth-doped barium-aluminum-borate glasses

We report near infrared broadband emission of bismuth-doped barium-aluminum-borate glasses. The broadband emission covers 1.3 mum window in optical telecommunication systems. And it possesses wide full width at half maximum (FWHM) of similar to 200nm and long lifetime as long as 350 mus. The luminescent properties are quite sensitive to glass compositions and excitation wavelengths. Based on energy matching conditions, we suggest that the infrared emission may be ascribed to P-3(1) --> P-3(0) transition of Bi+. The broad infrared emission characteristics of this material indicate that it might be a promising candidate for broadband optical fiber amplifiers and tunable lasers. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Near infrared broadband emission of bismuth-doped aluminophosphate glass

Near infrared broadband emission characteristics of bismuth-doped aluminophosphate glass have been investigated. Broad infrared emissions peaking at 1210nm, 1173nm and 1300nm were observed when the glass was pumped by 405nm laser diode (LD), 514nm Ar+ laser and 808nm LD, respectively. The full widths at half maximum (FWHMs) are 235nm, 207nm and 300nm for the emissions at 1210nm, 1173nm and 1300nm, respectively. Based on the energy matching conditions, it is suggested that the infrared emission may be ascribed to P-3(1) --> P-3(0) transition of Bi+. The broadband infrared luminescent characteristics of the glasses indicate that they are promising for broadband optical fiber amplifiers and tunable lasers. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.

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.

Superbroadband 1310 nm emission from bismuth and tantalum codoped germanium oxide glasses

Near-infrared broadband emission from bismuth-tantalum-codoped germanium oxide glasses was observed at room temperature when the glasses were pumped by an 808 nm laser diode. The emission band covered the 0, E, S, C, and L bands (1260-1625 nm), with a maximum peak at similar to 1310 nm, a FWHM broader than 400 nm, and a lifetime longer than 200 lis. The observed broadband luminescence was attributed to bismuth clusters in the glasses. Bismuth-tantalum-codoped germanium oxide glass might be promising as amplification media for broadly tunable lasers and wideband amplifiers in optical communications. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Low-threshold and continuously tunable Yb : Gd2SiO5 laser

Yb:Gd2SiO5 (Yb:GSO) exhibits a large fundamental manifold splitting. Its long-wavelength emission band around 1088 nm, which has the largest emission cross section, encounters the lowest reabsorption losses caused by thermal population of the terminal laser level. As a result, low-threshold and tunable continuous-wave Yb:GSO lasers were demonstrated. A slope efficiency up to 86% and a pumping threshold as low as 127 mW were achieved for a continuous-wave Yb:GSO laser at 1092.5 nm under the pump of a high-brightness laser diode. A continuous tunability between 1000 and 1120 nm was realized with an SF14 prism as the intracavity tuning element. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Luminescence studies of Ce : YAG using vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation

Photoluminescence spectrum of Ce:YAG single crystal was studied employing vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation. Intrinsic absorption edge at about 52,000 cm(-1) was observed in the absorption spectrum. From the VUV excitation spectrum, the energy of the highest d-component of 53,191 cm(-1) (188 nm) for the Ce3+ ions in YAG was obtained at 300 K. The disappearance of the third 5d level at 37,735 cm(-1) (265 nm) in absorption and excitation spectra in our samples may be due to the impurity Fe3+ ions absorption. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Direct synthesis and intense luminescence of Y2O3 : Eu nanophosphors by complexation combustion

In this paper, we report the synthesis of high-luminance Y2O3:Eu nanocrystal through a citrate-nitrate complexation combustion method at a low temperature of 200-280 degrees C. The as-combusted Y2O3:Eu phosphors are almost equiaxed crystallites with an average size of 30-40 run, and have an intense red luminescence. The present fuel-deficient method suggests that by control of the ratio of citric acid to nitrates, it is valuable for the fabrication of Y2O3 nanoparticles without heat treatment. This process should be applicable to a wide range of nanocrystal oxides.

Sol-gel combustion synthesis and luminescence Of Y4Al2O9 : Eu3+ nanocrystal

Y4Al2O9:EU3+ phosphor was synthesized through a sol-gel combustion method. The Y4Al2O9 phase can form through sintering at 800 degrees C. This temperature is much lower than that required via the solid state reaction method. The average grain size of the phosphor was about 30 run. Compared with the amorphous phosphor, the charge transfer band of crystalline phosphor shows a blue shift. The emission Of Y4Al2O9:Eu3+ indicates the existence of two luminescent centers, in agreement with the crystal structure of Y4Al2O9. Higher doping concentration could be realized in Y4Al2O9 nanocrystal host lattice. This indicates that the sol-gel combustion synthesis method can increase emission intensity and quenching concentration due to a good distribution of EU3+ activators in Y4Al2O9 host. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous three-photon-excited violet upconversion luminescence of Ce3+: Lu2Si2O7 single crystals by femtosecond laser irradiation

We found that Ce3+:Lu2Si2O7 single crystals could be excited at 800 nm by using a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. The emission spectra of Ce3+:Lu2Si2O7 crystals were the same for one-photon excitation at 267 nm as for excitation at 800 nm. The emission intensity of Ce3+: Lu2Si2O7 crystals was found to depend on the cube of the laser power at 800 nm, consistent with simultaneous absorption of three 800 nm photons. The measured value of the three-photon absorption cross section is sigma'(3) = 2.44 x 10(-77) cm(6) s(2). (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.