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Journal of Applied Physics

Excited-state absorption of Tm3+-doped single crystals at photon-avalanche wavelengths

N. Garnier, R. Moncorgé, H. Manaa, E. Descroix, P. Laporte, Yannick Guyot

Published Apr 15, 1996• 21 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Excited-state absorption (ESA) spectra calibrated in units of cross sections are reported in the case of Tm3+-doped YAG, YAP, and Y2O3 single crystals around wavelengths at which photon-avalanche absorptions were observed recently. The peak ESA cross sections are compared with those obtained theoretically by using the Judd–Ofelt approach.

DOI
10.1063/1.361801

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The excited-state absorption (ESA) in Nd 3+ :SrF 2 crystals was investigated in the 1280 — 1320 nm spectral wavelength range by selective laser excitation. It was found that, on excitation at wavelengths of 743 and 800.5 nm, there is no ESA in the ranges 1304 — 1309 and 1295 — 1297 nm. Weak ESA bands are observed in the 1297 — 1304 and 1309 — 1320 nm ranges and the differential ESA cross section does not exceed 0.3 × 10 -21 cm 2 . The results indicate that the ESA does not preclude the use of an Nd 3+ :SrF 2 crystal as the amplifying medium in the wavelength range 1280 — 1320 nm.

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Nonlinear Optical Absorption via Photon Avalanche

A. W. Kueny, William E. Case, Mark E. Koch

We report an investigation of a nonlinear optical absorption phenomenon observed in LaCl3 crystals doped with Pr. When these crystals are illuminated with a laser beam of 529 nm wavelength and intensity in excess of a certain critical value, the light is strongly absorbed. The laser radiation is resonant with a Pr3+ transition from the first excited state (3H5) to a high optical state (3P1), and absorption is accompanied by strong fluorescence output from 3p1 and 3p0 to several lower-lying levels. Since the resonant transition does not include the ground state, it is not expected a priori that any absorption should occur (see Fig. 1). This is an example of the so-called photon avalanche phenomenon1.

Nonlinear Optical Properties of Materials•Jan 1, 1988•0 citations
Excited-state absorption (ESA) spectra calibrated in units of cross sections are reported in the case of Tm3+-doped YAG, YAP, and Y2O3 single crystals around wavelengths at which photon-avalanche absorptions were observed recently. The peak ESA cross sections are compared with those obtained theoretically by using the Judd–Ofelt approach.
High resolution, absolute excited-state absorption (ESA) spectra, at room temperature, from the long-lived 3F4 energy level of several crystals doped with trivalent thulium (Tm3+) ions have been measured employing high-brightness narrowband (FWHM <30 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a probe wavelength. The aim of this investigation was to determine the strength of ESA channels at wavelengths addressable by commercially available semiconductor laser diodes operating around 630-680 nm. The favourable lifetime of the 3F4 manifold and negligible ground-state absorption (GSA) for the red-wavelength second-step excitation, ensures a direct and efficient route for a dual-wavelength pumping scheme of the thulium ion, which will enable blue-green laser emission from its 1G4 upper-laser level.
Seven absorption group-bands (1D2, 1G4, 3F2, 3F3, 3H4, 3H5, 3F4) of Tm3+ in YVO4 single crystals have been observed in the orientation absorption spectra recorded in the spectral range from 200 to 4000 nm at 300K. The integrated absorption cross section for each group-band was accurately evaluated. On the assumption that the anisotropy of this uni-axial crystal is small, the Judd-Ofelt theory was extended for the calculation of 4f-4f transition intensities of Tm3+ in YVO4. Two sets of phenomenological intensity parameters were derived from a least-squares-fit procedure. For c-axis cut sample we have Ω2=10.18 (10-20cm2), Ω4=1.96 (10-20cm2), Ω6=0.75 (10-20cm2). For a-axis cut sample we have Ω2=8.20 (10-20cm2), Ω4=2.47 (10-20cm2), Ω6=0.91 (10-20cm2). The anisotropy of the optical absorption intensities of Tm3+:YVO4 was theoretically analyzed in detail.
The optical-absorption transitions originating from the lowest 4f5d excited state of Pr3+{\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}Pr3+ in Y3{\mathrm{Y}}_{3}Y3​Al5{\mathrm{Al}}_{5}Al5​O12{\mathrm{O}}_{12}O12​ have been studied. The experimental arrangement uses a 7-ns 266-nm light pulse to populate the lowest 4f5d state, and a spatially overlapped, time-sequenced pulse from a frequency-tunable dye laser to induce transitions from that excited state. The excited-state-absorption (ESA) spectrum covering the 900--300-nm probe wavelength range is characterized by two broad peaks centered at 700 and 350 nm on a slowly rising background. The peak ESA cross section at 355 nm is (1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}17}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2. The position, shape, and strength of the spectrum suggest that the terminal states of the ESA transitions are the second 4f5d state of Pr3+{\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}Pr3+ and the conduction band of the host lattice. The ESA measurements have been extended to transitions from the 3^{3}3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​ and 1^{1}1D2{\mathit{D}}_{2}D2​ excited states of the 4f2{\mathit{f}}^{2}f2 configuration of Pr3+{\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}Pr3+ as well. The ESA cross sections at a probe wavelength of 532 nm are (8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}19}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 and (5.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}19}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 for transitions from the 3^{3}3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​ and 1^{1}1D2{\mathit{D}}_{2}D2​ excited states, respectively. The terminal state of ESA transitions from these two levels is the lowest 4f5d state. The strong ESA completely inhibits the potential laser action based on emission from these states in this crystal.
The excited-state absorption (ESA) in Nd 3+ :SrF 2 crystals was investigated in the 1280 — 1320 nm spectral wavelength range by selective laser excitation. It was found that, on excitation at wavelengths of 743 and 800.5 nm, there is no ESA in the ranges 1304 — 1309 and 1295 — 1297 nm. Weak ESA bands are observed in the 1297 — 1304 and 1309 — 1320 nm ranges and the differential ESA cross section does not exceed 0.3 × 10 -21 cm 2 . The results indicate that the ESA does not preclude the use of an Nd 3+ :SrF 2 crystal as the amplifying medium in the wavelength range 1280 — 1320 nm.
We report an investigation of a nonlinear optical absorption phenomenon observed in LaCl3 crystals doped with Pr. When these crystals are illuminated with a laser beam of 529 nm wavelength and intensity in excess of a certain critical value, the light is strongly absorbed. The laser radiation is resonant with a Pr3+ transition from the first excited state (3H5) to a high optical state (3P1), and absorption is accompanied by strong fluorescence output from 3p1 and 3p0 to several lower-lying levels. Since the resonant transition does not include the ground state, it is not expected a priori that any absorption should occur (see Fig. 1). This is an example of the so-called photon avalanche phenomenon1.