1.5 mu m emission and infrared-to-visible frequency upconversion in Er+3/Yb+3-doped phosphoniobate glasses

Sodium phosphoniobate glasses with the composition (mol%) 75NaPO(3)-25Nb(2)O(5) and containing 2 mol% Yb3+ and x mol% Er3+ (0.01 <= x <= 2) were prepared using the conventional melting/casting process. Er3+ emission at 1.5 mu m and infrared-to-visible upconversion emission, upon excitation at 976 nm, are evaluated as a function of the Er3+ concentration. For the lowest Er3+ content, 1.5 mu m emission quantum efficiency was 90%. Increasing the Er3+ concentration up to 2 mol%, the emission quantum efficiency was observed to decrease to 37% due to concentration quenching. The green and red upconversion emission intensity ratio was studied as a function of Yb3+ co-doping and the Er3+-Er3+ energy transfer processes. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. 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.

Optical properties of remotely doped parabolic quantum wells

This work is intended to report on optical measurements in a parabolic quantum well with a two dimensional-three dimensional electron gas. Photoluminescence results show broad spectra which are related to emission involving several subbands on conduction band with the fundamental level of the valence band. This assumption is based on the behavior of the PL peak position and the full width at half maximum in the function of the incident power intensity. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Photoreflectance studies of optical transitions in cubic GaN grown on GaAs(001) substrates

The optical properties of cubic GaN epitaxial layers were investigated by modulated photoreflectance (PR) and photoluminescence in the temperature interval from 5 to 300 K. The epilayers were grown on GaAs(001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy using a nitrogen RIF-activated plasma source. The PR spectra show a transition which is well fitted using the third-derivative functional form of the unperturbed dielectric function, which we interpret as band-to-band transition. Our results allow determination of the temperature dependence of the main gap of c-GaN and give insights into the residual strain in the film, as well as allow us to estimate the binding energy of the complex formed by an exciton bound to a neutral acceptor. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Optical characteristics of Er3+-Yb3+ doped SnO2 xerogels

Er3+ doped SnO2 xerogels have been obtained from aqueous colloidal suspensions. Emission and excitation spectra were obtained and allowed the identification of two main families of sites for Er3+. In the first one Er3+ substitutes for Sn4+ in the SnO2 cassiterite structure. In the second Er3+ are found adsorbed at the SnO2 particle surface. For the first family of sites the technological important infrared Er3+ emission about 1.5 mum is efficiently excited through absorption at the SnO2 conduction band at 3.8 eV. on the other hand the emission due to adsorbed ions appears inhomogeneously broadened by the statistical distribution of sites available for Er3+ ions at the surface of the particles. Moreover it is not excited by the host. The emission of this second family of sites could be also excited by an energy transfer mechanism involving Yb3+ ions also adsorbed a posteriori at particles surface. Results are compared with spectra obtained for Eu3+ doped samples. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Temperature and wavelength dependence of the thermo-optical properties of tellurite and chalcogenide glasses

The refractive index and the temperature coefficient of the optical path length change of tellurite (80TeO(2):20Li(2)O) and chalcogenide glasses (72.5Ga(2)S(3):27.5La(2)O(3)) were determined as a function of temperature (up to 150 degrees C) and wavelength (in the range between 454 and 632.8 nm). The tellurite glass exhibits the usual refractive index dispersion in the wavelength range analyzed, while anomalous refractive index dispersion was observed for the chalcogenide glass between 454 and 530 nm. The dispersion parameters were determined by means of the single-effective oscillator model. In addition, a strong dependence of the temperature coefficient of the optical path length on the photon energy and temperature was found for the chalcogenide glass. The latter was correlated to the shift of the optical band gap (or electronic edge) with temperature, which was interpreted by the electron-phonon interaction model. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Structural studies of NaPO3-MoO3 glasses by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and raman spectroscopy

Vitreous samples were prepared in the (100 - x)% NaPO3-x% MoO3 (0 <= x <= 70) glass-forming system by a modified melt method that allowed good optical quality samples to be obtained. The structural evolution of the vitreous network was monitored as a function of composition by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman scattering, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for P-31, Na-23, and Mo-95 nuclei. Addition of MoO3 to the NaPO3 glass melt leads to a pronounced increase in the glass transition temperatures up to x = 45, suggesting a significant increase in network connectivity. For this same composition range, vibrational spectra suggest that the Mo6+ ions are bonded to some nonbridging oxygen atoms (Mo-O- or Mo=O bonded species). Mo-O-Mo bond formation occurs only at MoO3 contents exceeding x = 45. P-31 magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra, supported by two-dimensional J-resolved spectroscopy, allow a clear distinction between species having two, one, and zero P-O-P linkages. These sites are denoted as Q(2Mo)((2)), Q(1Mo)((2)), and Q(0Mo)((2)), respectively. For x < 0.45, the populations of these sites can be described along the lines of a binary model, according to which each unit of MoO3 converts two Q(nMo)((2)) sites into two Q((n+1)Mo)((2)) sites (n = 0, 1). This structural model is consistent with the presence of tetrahedral Mo(=O)(2)(O-1/2)(2) environments. Indeed, Mo-95 NMR data suggest that the majority of the molybdenum species are four-coordinated. However, the presence of additional six-coordinate molybdenum in the MAS NMR spectra indicates that the structure of these glasses may be more complicated and may additionally involve sharing of network modifier oxide between the network formers phosphorus and molybdenum. This latter hypothesis is further supported by Na-23{P-31} rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) data, which clearly reveal that the magnetic dipole-dipole interactions between P-31 and Na-23 are increasingly diminished with increasing molybdenum content. The partial transfer of modifier from the phosphate to the molybdate network former implies a partial repolymerization of the phosphate species, resulting in the formation of Q(nMo)((3)) species and accounting for the observed increase in the glass transition temperature with increasing MoO3 content that is observed in the composition range 0 <= x <= 45. Glasses with MoO3 contents beyond x = 45 show decreased thermal and crystallization stability. Their structure is characterized by isolated phosphate species [most likely of the P(OMo)(4) type] and molybdenum oxide clusters with a large extent of Mo-O-Mo connectivity.

Band-edge states of the zero(th)-order gap in quasi-periodic photonic superlattices

The photonic modes of Thue-Morse and Fibonacci lattices with generating layers A and B, of positive and negative indices of refraction, are calculated by the transfer-matrix technique. For Thue-Morse lattices, as well for periodic lattices with AB unit cell, the constructive interference of reflected waves, corresponding to the zero(th)-order gap, takes place when the optical paths in single layers A and B are commensurate. In contrast, for Fibonacci lattices of high order, the same phenomenon occurs when the ratio of those optical paths is close to the golden ratio. In the long wavelength limit, analytical expressions defining the edge frequencies of the zero(th) order gap are obtained for both quasi-periodic lattices. Furthermore, analytical expressions that define the gap edges around the zero(th) order gap are shown to correspond to the = 0 and = 0 conditions.

The effects of ZnGa2O4 formation on structural and optical properties of ZnO : Ga powders

Gallium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Ga 1, 2 3, 4 and 5 at%) samples were prepared in powder form by modifying the Pechini method. The formation of zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4) With the spinel crystal structure was observed even in ZnO:Ga 1 at% by X-ray diffraction. The presence of ZnGa2O4 in ZnO:Ga samples was also evidenced by luminescence spectroscopy through its blue emission at 430 nm, assigned to charge transfer between Ga3+ at regular octahedral symmetry and its surrounding O2- ions. The amount of ZnGa2O4 increases as the dopant concentration increases, as observed by the quantitative phase analysis by the Rietveld method. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optical and electrical diagnostics of a spark-plug discharge in air

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

Photopatternable di-ureasil-zirconium oxocluster organic-inorganic hybrids as cost effective integrated optical substrates

Organic-inorganic hybrids containing methacrylic acid (McOH, CH(2)= C(CH(3))COOH)) modified zirconium tetrapropoxide, Zr(OPr(n))(4), classed as di-ureasil-zirconium oxo-cluster hybrids, have been prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopies, Si and C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). XRD and SAXS results have pointed out the presence of Si- and Zr-based nanobuilding blocks (NBBs) dispersed into the organic phase. Inter-NBBs correlation distances have been estimated for the pure di-ureasil and a model compound obtained. by hydrolysis/condensation of Zr(OPr(n))(4):McOH (molar ratio 1: 1): d(Si) approximate to 26 +/- 1 angstrom and d(Zr) approximate to 16 +/- 1 angstrom, respectively. In the case of the di-ureasil-zirconium oxo-cluster hybrids, these distances depend on the Zr relative molar percentage (rel. mol. Zr %) (d(Si) ranges from 18 to 25 angstrom and d(Zr) from 14 to 23 angstrom, as the rel. mol. Zr % increases from 5 to 75), suggesting that the Si- and Zr-based clusters are interconstrained. Complementary data from FT-IR, FT-Raman, (29)Si and (13)C NMR, and AFM support to a structural model where McOH-modified Zr-based NBBs (Zr-OMc) are present over the whole range of composition. At low Zr-OMc contents (rel. mol. Zr % <30) the clusters are well-dispersed within the di-ureasil host, whereas segregation occurs at the 0.1 mu m scale at high Zr-OMc concentration (rel. mol. Zr % = 50). No Zr-O-Si heterocondensation has been discerned. Monomode waveguides, diffractions gratings, and Fabry-Perot cavities have been written through the exposure of the hybrid monoliths to UV light. FT-Raman has shown that the chemical process that takes place under illumination is the polymerization of the methacrylate groups of the Zr-OMc NBBs. The guidance region in patterned channels is a Gaussian section located below the exposed surface with typical dimensions of 320 mu m wide and 88 mu m deep. The effective refractive index is 1.5162 (maximum index contrast on the order of 1 x 10(-4)) and the reflection coeficient of the Fabry-Perot cavity (formed by a grating patterned into a 0.278 cm channel) is 0.042 with a free spectral range value of 35.6 GHz.

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)

Er(3+) doped phosphoniobate glasses and planar waveguides: structural and optical properties

Phosphoniobate glasses with composition (mol%) (100-x) NaPO(3)-xNb(2)O(5) ( x varying from 11 to 33) were prepared and characterized by means of thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman scattering and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance. The addition of Nb(2)O(5) to the polyphosphate base glass leads to depolymerization of the metaphosphate structure. Different colors were observed and assigned as indicating the presence of Nb(4+) ions, as confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. The color was observed to depend on the glass composition and melting temperature as well. Er(3+) containing samples were also prepared. Strong emission in the 1550 nm region was observed. The Er(3+4)I(15/2) emission quantum efficiency was observed to be 90% and the quenching concentration was observed to be 1.1 mol%( 1.45 x 10(20) ions cm(-3)). Planar waveguides were prepared by Na(+)-K(+)-Ag(+) ion exchange with Er(3+) containing samples. Optical parameters of the waveguides were measured at 632.8, 543.5 and 1550 nm by the prism coupling technique as a function of the ion exchange time and Ag(+) concentration. The optimized planar waveguides show a diffusion depth of 5.9 mu m and one propagating mode at 1550 nm.

Energy transfer and frequency upconversion in Yb3+-Er3+-doped PbO-GeO2 glass containing silver nanoparticles

We report the infrared-to-visible frequency upconversion in Er3+-Yb3+-codoped PbO-GeO2 glass containing silver nanoparticles (NPs). The optical excitation is made with a laser at 980 nm in resonance with the F-2(5/2)-> F-2(7/2) transition of Yb3+ ions. Intense emission bands centered at 525, 550, and 662 nm were observed corresponding to Er3+ transitions. The simultaneous influence of the Yb3+-> Er3+ energy transfer and the contribution of the intensified local field effect due to the silver NPs give origin to the enhancement of the whole frequency upconversion spectra.

Infrared-to-visible upconversion in Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped PbO-GeO2 glass with silver nanoparticles

Enhanced frequency upconversion (UC) emission was studied in Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped PbO-GeO2 glass containing silver nanoparticles (NPs). Optical excitation was achieved with a laser operating at 980 nm in resonance with the Yb3+ transition F-4(5/2)-> F-4(7/2). The intensity of the whole UC spectrum from 400 to 700 nm was intensified due to the influence of silver NPs. The green and red emissions were enhanced by more than 300%. Emission bands centered at 408 nm and 480 nm were also detected corresponding to the H-2(9/2)-> I-4(15/2) and F-4(7/2)-> I-4(15/2) transitions of Er3+ ion. An intensity enhancement of approximate to 150% due to the NPs was measured. For the first time the influence of silver NPs on the blue emission of Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped PbO-GeO2 glass is reported. The large enhancement in the whole UC spectrum is due to the increased local field in the Er3+ ions locations and the proximity between the luminescence wavelengths and the NPs surface plasmon resonance. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.