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Applied Optics

Rare Earth Infrared Quantum Counter

L. Esterowitz, Alfons Schnitzler, J. Noonan, J. Bahler

Published Oct 1, 1968• 57 citations

Abstract

An analysis of an ideal five-level ir quantum counter (IRQC) is presented. The importance of the two additional levels is discussed and analyzed. The parameters for achieving optimum performance as an ir detector and/or an image converter are presented. In theory, the IRQC is the only quantum amplifier with photon gain that can approach a noise temperature of absolute zero. In practice, with the constriction of available materials and technology, the most feasible use for the IRQC in the near term would be in an active system. An ir laser would be used to scan the target while another laser would pump the excited state transition. The IRQC action has been observed in this laboratory in the tripositive rare earths of Pr, Nd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, and Tm. These ions were incorporated in single crystal lattices of CaF(2), BaF(2), SrF(2), CdF(2), LaF(3), CaWO(4), A1(2)O(3), YAG, LaCl(3), and in solutions of the various trichlorides (dissolved in D(2)O). A total of 165 schemes are reported. The rare earth impurity concentration varied from 0.05% to 20%. In our laboratory, the primary range of interest for detection and/or image conversion is between 1 micro and 2 micro. Therefore, almost all the systems studied involved the detection of an ir photon in this region.

DOI: 10.1364/ao.7.002053

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Abstract : Quantum counter action has been observed in divalent rare earth doped ions lattices. The report presents the experimental work that has been done on Sm(2+) and Tm(2+) singly doped and Sm(2+) : Tm(2+) double doped systems in order to investigate the nature and efficiency of the schemes. The results show that while these systems are more efficient per ion than the trivalent rare earth doped systems the lower concentrations possible bring the overall efficiency back to the same level. (Author)

•Jul 1, 1969•0 citations

An analysis of an ideal five-level ir quantum counter (IRQC) is presented. The importance of the two additional levels is discussed and analyzed. The parameters for achieving optimum performance as an ir detector and/or an image converter are presented. In theory, the IRQC is the only quantum amplifier with photon gain that can approach a noise temperature of absolute zero. In practice, with the constriction of available materials and technology, the most feasible use for the IRQC in the near term would be in an active system. An ir laser would be used to scan the target while another laser would pump the excited state transition. The IRQC action has been observed in this laboratory in the tripositive rare earths of Pr, Nd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, and Tm. These ions were incorporated in single crystal lattices of CaF(2), BaF(2), SrF(2), CdF(2), LaF(3), CaWO(4), A1(2)O(3), YAG, LaCl(3), and in solutions of the various trichlorides (dissolved in D(2)O). A total of 165 schemes are reported. The rare earth impurity concentration varied from 0.05% to 20%. In our laboratory, the primary range of interest for detection and/or image conversion is between 1 micro and 2 micro. Therefore, almost all the systems studied involved the detection of an ir photon in this region.

This paper reviews the results of a program of experimental work on infrared quantum counter action in trivalent rare earth doped CaF2, SrF2, BaF2, and LaF3lattices. The action has been found in eight of the nine possible ions that could give an output in the visible region. While the strengths of the various schemes at a 1 percent doping level are consistant with a low concentration theory, the strengths of the schemes at a 10 percent doping level indicate that there are ion-ion interactions influencing the systems. These ion-ion couplings are so effective that three photon addition schemes have been identified.

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.

An analysis made in a recent publication indicates that two-photon, Raman, and thermal excitation noise contributions in a 10-μm infrared quantum counter (IRQC) are insignificant compared to that due to the background (300 K) radiation. This conclusion is found to be unwarranted because of several errors in the analysis, foremost of which is an overestimation by 9 orders of magnitude of the transition rate Wα′αbir induced by background radiation. The revised calculation presented here demonstrates that the background radiation, far from being the dominant noise source, is at most comparable in magnitude with the other noise mechanisms.

We present a new infrared (IR) detection scheme based on the infrared quantum counter (IRQC) detector and utilizing the photon avalanche process. At the time of its discovery, the phenomenon of photon avalanche was considered a limitation rather than an advantage for the development of IRQC. Both the experimental results and the numerical modeling presented demonstrate that the process responsible for photon avalanche can be used to enhance the detection of an IR signal. A new room-temperature IR detection scheme is proposed on the basis of the results of this research. The novel detection scheme presented demonstrates an increase in detectivity and a decrease in the noise-equivalent power when compared with the IRQC schemes previously discussed in the literature.

Abstract : Quantum counter action has been observed in divalent rare earth doped ions lattices. The report presents the experimental work that has been done on Sm(2+) and Tm(2+) singly doped and Sm(2+) : Tm(2+) double doped systems in order to investigate the nature and efficiency of the schemes. The results show that while these systems are more efficient per ion than the trivalent rare earth doped systems the lower concentrations possible bring the overall efficiency back to the same level. (Author)