Spectral redistribution of waveguided emission in BEH-PPV films

We report on spectral redistribution of the photoluminescence (PL) emission from the edge of thin-film planar waveguides of the conjugated polymer BEH-PPV [Poly(2,5-bis(2'-ethyl-hexyl)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] induced by self-absorption in the polymer film. The PL spectra present drastic changes and displace to longer wavelengths with increasing self-absorption. We observe an enhancement of the absolute PL intensity at longer wavelengths, which was interpreted as due to re-emission of self-absorbed photons. The significant efficiency for the PL re-emission suggests the use of self-absorption as a mechanism for tuning the emission into the near infrared.

Red, green, and blue upconversion luminescence in ytterbium-sensitized praseodymium-doped lead-cadmium-germanate glass

Blue, green, red, and near-infrared upconversion luminescence in the wavelength region of 480-740 nm in Pr3+/Yb3+-codoped lead-cadmium-germanate glass under 980 nm diode laser excitation, is presented. Upconversion emission peaks around 485, 530, 610, 645, and 725 nm which were ascribed to the P-3(0)-H-3(J) (J = 4, 5, and 6), and P-3(0)-F-3(J) (J = 2, 3, and 4), transitions, respectively, were observed. The population of the praseodymium upper P-3(0) emitting level was accomplished through a combination of ground-state absorption of Yb3+ ions at the F-2(7/2), energy-transfer Yb3+(2F(5/2))-Pr3+(H-3(4)), and excited-state absorption of Pr3+ ions provoking the (1)G(4)-P-3(0) transition. The dependence of the upconversion luminescence upon the Yb3+-concentration and diode laser power, is also examined, in order to subsidize the proposed upconversion excitation mechanism. (C) 2004 Elsevier B,V. All rights reserved.

Annealing effects on optical properties of natural alexandrite

Natural alexandrite (BeAl2O4:Cr3+) crystals are investigated as regards the effects of annealing on their optical properties. Optical absorption spectra are measured from the ultraviolet (190 nm) to the near infrared (900 nm), for a sample subjected to consecutive annealing processes, where time and temperature are varied. Besides this, luminescence spectra are simultaneously obtained for this sample, excited with a Kr+ laser source, tuned on an ultraviolet multi-line mode (337.5, 350.7 and 356.4 nm). We observe from absorption as well as from emission data that annealing mainly influences the distribution of Cr3+ and Fe3+ ions, located on sites of a mirror plane (C-s symmetry), which are responsible for the optical properties of alexandrite. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that annealing induces a modification of the population of Cr3+ on C-s sites as well as on sites located on an inversion plane (C-i). Annealing could improve the optical properties of this material, as regards its application as a tunable laser.

Influence of the common varistor dopants (CoO, Cr2O3 and Nb2O5) on the structural properties of SnO2 ceramics

The influence of dopants commonly used in SnO2 varistor ceramics, such as CoO, Cr2O3 or Nb2O5, on the structural properties of SnO2 was investigated. Several SnO2-based ceramics containing only one of the dopants were prepared and characterized. Spectroscopic investigations [visible, near infrared (IR) and IR region] were performed to obtain information about dopants valence states inside the ceramics, as well as about their influence on electronic structure of the material. Structural properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis and mechanisms of dopant incorporation were proposed. Obtained results were confirmed with results of the electrical measurements. Microstructural changes in doped ceramics were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis that showed great differences in densities, grain size, and morphology of the SnO2 ceramics depending on type of dopants and their distribution. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Drude's model calculation rule on electrical transport in Sb-doped SnO2 thin films, deposited via sol-gel

The evaluation of free carrier concentration based on Drude's theory can be performed by the use of optical transmittance in the range 800-2000 nm (near infrared) for Sb-doped SnO2 thin films. In this article, we estimate the free carrier concentration for these films, which are deposited via sol-gel dip-coating. At approximately 900 mn, there is a separation among transmittance curves of doped and undoped samples. The plasma resonance phenomena approach leads to free carrier concentration of about 5 x 1020 cm(-3). The increase in the Sb concentration increases the film conductivity; however, the magnitude of measured resistivity is still very high. The only way to combine such a high free carrier concentration with a rather low conductivity is to have a very low mobility. It becomes possible when the crystallite dimensions are taken into account. We obtain grains with 5 nm of average size by estimating the grain size from X-ray diffraction data, and by using line broadening in the diffraction pattern. The low conductivity is due to very intense scattering at the grain boundary, which is created by the presence of a large amount of nanoscopic crystallites. Such a result is in accordance with X-ray photoemission spectroscopy data that pointed to Sb incorporation proportional to the free electron concentration, evaluated according to Drude's model. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efficient energy upconversion emission in Tm3+/Yb3+-codoped TeO2-based optical glasses excited at 1.064 mu m

Efficient energy upconversion of cw radiation at 1.064 mum into blue, red, and near infrared emission in Tm3+-doped Yb3+-sensitized 60TeO(2)-10GeO(2)-10K(2)O-10Li(2)O-10Nb(2)O(5) glasses is reported. Intense blue upconversion luminescence at 485 nm corresponding to the Tm3+ (1)G(4)--> H-3(6) transition with a measured absolute power of 0.1 muW for 800 mW excitation power at room temperature is observed. The experimental results also revealed a sevenfold enhancement in the upconversion efficiency when the sample was heated from room temperature to 235 degreesC yielding 0.7 muW of blue absolute fluorescence power for 800 mW pump power. High brightness emission around 800 nm (F-3(4)--> H-3(6)) in addition to a less intense 655 nm ((1)G(4)--> H-3(4) and F-3(2,3)--> H-3(6)) fluorescence is also recorded. The energy upconversion excitation mechanism for thulium emitting levels is assigned to multiphonon-assisted anti-Stokes excitation of the ytterbium-sensitizer followed by multiphonon-assisted sequential energy-transfer processes. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.

MAGNETOOPTICAL PROPERTIES OF F-2(+) CENTER IN KCL-SH-

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) of F2+ centers in KCl:SH- has been measured in absorption in the 1ssigma(g) --> 2p(y)pi(u) transitions at 493 and 509 nm, with fields up to 5 T and in the temperature range 1.5 K < T < 77 K. Within the limit of detection, no MCD is observed in the near infrared transition 1ssigma(g) --> 2psigma(u) as well as in both emissions 2ppi(u) --> 1ssigma(g) and 2psigma(u) --> 1ssigma(g). The optical detection of EPR in the F2+ ground state presents an isotropic single band with g = 1.965 +/- 0.007. The spin-lattice relaxation measured at H = 0.32 T is typical of a direct process T-1 = 4.3 x 10(-2_ coth (gmu(B)H/2k(B)T). The spectral variation of the MCD is calculated using perturbation theory to first order. The Hamiltonian includes the spin-orbit interaction in the 2ppi(u) excited state and the orbital molecular wave functions are obtained by a linear combination of 1s and 2p atomic orbitals. The calculated MCD is in good agreement with the observed one, for the spin-orbit interaction strength Pound(z) = 3.6 meV.

Spectroscopic properties of Yb3+ doped PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3 glasses for IR laser applications

PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3 glasses doped with different concentrations of Yb3+ are presented. The spectroscopic properties and laser parameters are calculated and a comparison between different results obtained when calculating the Yb3+ emission cross-section with the reciprocity method and with the Fuchtbauer-Ladenburg formula is presented. The behavior of the near-infrared luminescence is described theoretically by a rate equation and compared with the experimental results. This host doped with Yb3+ is a promising material for laser action at 1019 nm, with properties similar to other known glasses used as active laser media; the emission cross-section of 1.1 x 10(-20) cm(2), the high absorption cross-section (of 2.0 x 10(-20) cm(2)) and a minimum pump intensity of 2.4 kW/cm(2) are interesting properties for short pulse generation. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multiwavelength visible and white light generation by upconversion emission in Ho/Tm/Yb triply doped fluorogermanate glass-ceramic

Energy transfer excited multiwavelength visible upconversion emission and white light generation is described in a single sample of PbGeO(3)-PbF(2)-CdF(2) glass-ceramic triply doped With Ho/Tm/Yb under single infrared laser excitation. Blue (475 nm), green (540 mn), and red (650 nm), upconversion luminescence signals are generated, and the emissions are assigned, respectively, to thulium ((1)G(4)-(3)H(6)), and holmium ((5)S(2);(5)F(4)) -> (5)I(8), (5)F(5) -> (5)I(8)) ions transitions, both excited via successive energy transfers from ytterbium ions. It is experimentally shown that with a proper combination of the rare earth ions contents, white light may be produced, with the simultaneous generation of fluorescence with controllable intensities at the wavelengths of the three primary colours in a single sample and using a single near-infrared excitation source.

Upconversion luminescence in Ho3+/Yb3+- and Tb3+/Yb3+-codoped fluorogermanate glass and glass ceramic

Energy-transfer excited upconversion luminescence in Ho3+/Yb3+- and Tb3+/Yb3+ -codoped PbGeO3-PbF2-CdF2 glass and glass-ceramic under infrared excitation is investigated. In Ho3+/Yb3+-codoped samples, green (545 nm), red (652 nm), and near-infrared (754 nm) upconversion emission corresponding to the S-5(2) (F-5(4)) -> I-5(8), F-5(5) -> I-5(8), and S-5(2)(F-5(4)) -> I-5(7) transitions, respectively, was observed. Blue (490 nm) emission assigned to the F-5(2,3) -> I-5(8) transition was also detected. In the Tb3+/Yb3+-codoped system, bright UV-visible emission around 384, 415, 438, 473-490, 545, 587, and 623 nm, identified as due to the D-5(3)((5)G(6)) -> F-7(J)(J = 6, 5, 4) and D-5(4) -> F-7(J)(J = 6, 5, 4, 3) transitions, was measured. The comparison of the upconversion process in glass ceramic and its glassy precursor revealed that the former samples present much higher upconversion efficiencies. The dependence of the upconversion emission upon pump power, and doping contents was also examined. The results indicated that successive energy-transfer between ytterbium and holmium ions and cooperative energy-transfer between ytterbium and terbium ions followed by excited-state absorption are the dominant upconversion excitation mechanisms herein involved. The viability of using the samples for three-dimensional solid-state color displays is also discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Active planar waveguides based on sol-gel Er3+-doped SiO2-ZrO2 for photonic applications: Morphological, structural and optical properties

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

PbO-GeO2 rib waveguides for photonic applications

This work presents for the first time to our knowledge the fabrication and characterization of rib waveguides produced with PbO-GeO2 (PGO) thin films. The target was manufactured using pure oxides ( 60 PbO-40 GeO2, in wt%) and amorphous thin films were produced with the RF sputtering technique. PGO thin films present small absorption in the visible and in the near infrared and refractive index of similar to 2.0. The definition of the rib waveguide structure was made using conventional optical lithography followed by plasma etching, performed in a Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) reactor. Light propagation mode in the waveguide structure was analyzed using integrated optic simulation software. Optical loss measurements were performed to determine the propagation loss at 633 nm, for ribs with height of 70 nm and width of 3-5 mu m; experimental values around 2 dB/cm were found for the propagation loss and confirmed the theoretical calculations. The results obtained demonstrate that PGO thin films are potential candidates for application in integrated optics. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Stokes and anti-Stokes luminescence of Er3+ doped Ga10Ge25S65 glass excited at 980 and 532 nm

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Frequency upconversion in Er3+-doped fluoroindate glasses pumped at 1.48 μm

We report on efficient frequency upconversion in Er3+-doped fluoroindate glass. The process is observed under 1.48 μm laser diode excitation and results in fluorescence generation in the range from ultraviolet to near-infrared radiation. The study was performed for samples containing 1, 2, and 3 ErF3 mol % in the range of temperatures from 24 to 448 K. The upconverted signals were studied as a function of the laser intensity, and their dynamical behavior is described using a rate equation model which allows us to obtain the energy transfer rates between Er3+ ions in pairs and triads.

Thermally enhanced frequency upconversion in Nd3+-doped fluoroindate glass

Multiphonon assisted frequency upconversion was observed in a Nd3+-doped fluoroindate glass pumped at 866 nm. A near-infrared upconverted emission at 750 nm with a peculiar linear dependence with the laser intensity was observed and explained. The intensity of the upconverted emission experienced a 40-fold enhancement when the sample's temperature was varied from 298 to 498 K. A rate equation model that includes light pumping and multiphonon absorption via thermally coupled electronic excited states of Nd3+ was used, describing quite well the experimental results. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.