Growth and spectroscopic characteristics of Yb : LPS single crystal

For the first time, a high optical quality Yb3+-doped lutetium pyrosilicate laser crystal Lu2Si2O7 (LPS) was grown by the Czochralski (Cz) method. The segregation coefficient of ytterbium ion in Yb:LPS crystal detected by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (TCP-AES) method is equal to 0.847. X-ray powder diffraction result confirms the C2/m phase monoclinic space group of the grown crystal and the peaks corresponding to different phases were indexed. The absorption and fluorescence spectra, as well as fluorescence decay lifetime of Yb3+ ion in LPS have been investigated. The absorption and fluorescence cross-sections of the transitions F-2(7/2) <-> F-2(5/2) of Yb3+ ion in LPS crystal have been determined. The advantages of the Yb:LPS crystal including high crystal quality, quasi-four-level laser operating scheme, high absorption cross-sections (1.33 x 10(-2) cm(2)) and particularly broad emission bandwidth (similar to 62 nm) indicated that the Yb:LPS crystal seemed to be a promising candidate used as compact, efficient thin chip lasers when LD is pumped at 940 and 980 nm due to its low-symmetry monoclinic structure and single crystallographic site. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Investigation of the spectroscopic properties of (Y0.92-xLa0.08Ndx)(2)O-3 transparent ceramics

The spectroscopic properties of (Y0.92-xLa0.08Ndx)(2)O-3 transparent ceramics were investigated. According to three intensity parameters (Omega(2),Omega(4),Omega(6)) fitted by the Judd-Ofelt theory, the spectroscopic quality parameter (X-Nd), branching ratio (beta(J,J')), and quantum efficiency (eta) of Nd3+ were determined. It was found that X-Nd of the host, owing to the additive La2O3, was decreased from 1.6 to 0.46; thus beta(J,11/2) was increased from 46% to 56.82%. A figure of merit of the specimens was discussed and compared with Nd:YAG transparent ceramic. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Raman spectroscopic investigation of pure and ytterbium-doped rare earth silicate crystals

Raman spectroscopy was used to study the molecular structure of a series of selected rare earth (RE) silicate crystals including Y2SiO5 (YSO), LU2SiO5 (LSO), (Lu0.5Y0.5)(2)SiO5 (LYSO) and their ytterbium-doped samples. Raman spectra show resolved bands below 500 cm(-1) region assigned to the modes of SiO4 and oxygen vibrations. Multiple bands indicate the nonequivalence of the RE-O bonds and the lifting of the degeneracy of the RE ion vibration. Low intensity bands below 500 cm(-1) are an indication of impurities. The (SiO4)(4-) tetrahedra are characterized by bands near 200 cm(-1) which show a separation of the components of nu(4) and nu(2), in the 500-700 cm(-1) region which are attributed to the distorting bending vibration and in the 880-1000 cm(-1) region which are attributed to the symmetric and antisymmetric stretching vibrational modes. The majority of the bands in the 300-610 cm(-1) region of Re2SiO5 were found to arise from vibrations involving both Si and RE ions, indicating that there is considerable mixing of Si displacements with Si-O bending modes and RE-0 stretching modes. The Raman spectra of RE silicate crystals were analyzed in terms of the molecular structure of the crystals, which enabled separation of the bands attributed to distinct vibrational units. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Investigation of the spectroscopic properties of Yb3+-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramic

Spectroscopic properties of (Y0.9-xLa0.1Ybx)(2)O-3 transparent ceramic were studied. Two main absorption peaks of the specimen are centered at 940 and 970 nm, which are suitable for InGaAs laser diode pumping. The main emission peaks were located at 1032 and 1075 nm with larger emission cross-section and longer fluorescence lifetime than those of Yb:Y2O3. These properties of (Y0.9-xLa0.1Ybx)(2)O-3 transparent ceramic are favorable to achieve high efficiency and high power laser output. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectroscopic properties of Nd3+:(La,Sr)(Al,Ta)O-3 crystal

A new laser crystal Nd3+:(La, Sr)(Al, Ta)O-3 (abbreviated as Nd3+:LSAT) has been grown by the conventional Czochralski method. The absorption and luminescence spectra of trivalent neodymium in Nd3+:LSAT crystal were measured at room temperature. The value of absorption and emission cross-section was calculated. The Judd-Ofelt analysis was applied to the crystal to get the phenomenological parameters (Omega(i), i = 2,4,6), the line strengths, the radiative transition rates, the branching ratios and the radiative lifetime. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Juvenile salmon investigations River Wenning catchment 1981-86

As part of the River Lune juvenile salmonid investigation, a number of sites on the River Wenning catchment were electrofished annually from 1981 - 1985. Particularly low Salmon parr populations were evident for much of the Wenning catchment which has caused some concern. All the Wenning catchment electrofishing results are reported in this paper and comparisons are made with designated groups of sites on the remainder of the Lune catchment. These groups of sites are: River Lune and tributaries, upstream Tebay, Upper Middle Lune, Lower Middle Lune, Lower Lune, Birk & Borrow Becks, Chapel & Crosdale Becks, Rawthey system, Barbon & Leek Becks and the Greta system. The general scarcity of Salmonids in large sections of the main river Wenning probably reflects the apparent limited natural spawning areas on the catchment. Details of Salmon fry and ova planting on the Wenning catchment since 1981 have been collated and whilst survival through the 0+ stage appears to be quite good, recruitment to the 1++ stage appears to be poor. Water quality does not appear to be responsible for the very low salmonid densities at some main river sites but is possibly a factor in apparently preventing any Salmon run in Keasden Beck. Recommendations for future Fisheries and Biological work are given.

Spectroscopic properties of Yb:YAP crystal

The 10at% Yb-YAP crystal has been grown by the Czochralski method. The absorption and emission spectra and fluorescence lifetime of Yb:YAP crystal at room temperature were studied. There is a strong absorption band centered at 959 nm and the absorption cross-section of 1.51 × 10^-20 cm². The emission cross-section at 1040 nm is 0.6 × 10^-20 cm² and the fluorescence lifetime is about 1.2 ms. The effects of O₂-annealing on the spectral properties were studied. The spectroscopic properties strongly depended on the axis direction and b axis was the best direction for laser output. The spectrum parameters of Yb:YAP and Yb:YAG crystal were compared.}

Crystal growth, spectroscopic characterization, and laser performance of Tm:LiLuF4 crystal

The National Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 60578044).