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arXiv:1506.07987 · Applied Physics Letters

Particle detection through the quantum counter concept in YAG:Er3+

A. F. Borghesani, C. Braggio, G. Carugno, F. Chiossi, Alberto Di Lieto, M. Guarise, G. Ruoso, Mauro Tonelli

Published Nov 9, 2015• 14 citations

Abstract

We report on a scheme for particle detection based on the infrared quantum counter concept. Its operation consists of a two-step excitation process of a four level system, which can be realized in rare earth-doped crystals when a cw pump laser is tuned to the transition from the second to the fourth level. The incident particle raises the atoms of the active material into a low lying, metastable energy state, triggering the absorption of the pump laser to a higher level. Following a rapid non-radiative decay to a fluorescent level, an optical signal is observed with a conventional detector. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of such a scheme, we have investigated the emission from the fluorescent level 4S3∕2 (540 nm band) in an Er3+-doped YAG crystal pumped by a tunable titanium sapphire laser when it is irradiated with 60 keV electrons delivered by an electron gun. We have obtained a clear signature that this excitation increases the 4I13∕2 metastable level population that can efficiently be exploited to generate a detectable optical signal.

DOI: 10.1063/1.4935151

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Positive optical gain around 5 cm−1 (∼21 dB/cm) has been observed in Er3+-doped Ba2NaNb5O15 single crystal using a pump and probe experimental setup. High power laser pulses at 532 nm have been used as the pump source in order to strongly populate the S43/2(H211/2) levels of the Er3+ ions due to ground state absorption. Low signal beam cw laser radiation at 850 nm has been used as the probe beam to stimulate the emission associated with the S43/2(H211/2)→I413/2 electronic transition of the Er3+ ions. The process has been modelized as a four level system, and its population has been analyzed and simulated in order to study the gain dynamics. Optical amplification of the probe signal has been observed during the first 60 μs, which represents a good agreement between the measured lifetime of the S43/2(H211/2) levels and the reported simulation.

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