Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Low temperature study of rare earth doped glasses

Casey L. Richardson

Published Jan 1, 2000• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

In this paper, we present a low-temperature study of rare earth doped glasses, which are important for creating compact, efficient gain media. We resolved effective Stark components of erbium doped glasses by analyzing their absorption cross sections at T=293K and T=110K. Using these Stark energy levels and the McCumber theory, we calculated the radiative lifetime of the I/-I/ transition in erbium. Our calculated lifetime agrees with the measured lifetime for this transition better than previously accepted methods.

Related papers

Experimental evidence of the validity of the McCumber theory relating emission and absorption for rare-earth glasses

Rodica M. Martin, Richard S. Quimby

The validity of the theory of McCumber [Phys. Rev.136, A954-A957 (1964)] has been tested by applying it to a number of ground-state transition in various rare-earth-doped glasses. Special attention was given to those aspects of the experimental procedure that can lead to systematic errors, such as reabsorption of fluorescence and baseline subtraction uncertainties in the absorption measurements. To ensure consistency between absorption and fluorescence measurements, we used the same geometry for light collection and measurement. With these experimental procedures properly implemented, we find that in all cases there is excellent agreement between the spectral shape of calculated and measured cross-section spectra at room temperature. This is true even for the thermally coupled (2H9/2,4F5/2) and 4F3/2 levels of Nd, which span an energy range of ∼2000 cm−1, much larger than the typical width of a single Stark level manifold. The results suggest that, at room temperature, the McCumber theory is not restricted to crystalline hosts but remains valid for the broader transitions characteristic of rare-earth-doped glass.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Aug 31, 2006•86 citations

Range of validity of McCumber theory in relating absorption and emission cross sections

Richard S. Quimby

The relation between absorption and emission spectra in a rare-earth doped solid is explored analytically and through numerical simulations on a model system. It is found that the widely used theory of McCumber [D. E. McCumber, Phys. Rev. 136, A954 (1964)] is strictly valid only when the linewidth of each individual transition between Stark levels is ≪kBT. When this assumption is relaxed, deviations between actual simulated spectra and McCumber-calculated spectra are found for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening. The McCumber transform introduces a characteristic distortion of each component transition, in which the low-energy side of the spectrum is increased, and the high-energy side is decreased. The average degree of distortion for the model system is calculated to be 5% for a homogeneous width of 50 cm−1 at room temperature, but only 1% for a purely inhomogeneous width of 50 cm−1. For both homogeneous and inhomogeneous spectra, the distortion varies with the linewidth Δν as (Δν)3/2. The dependence of the distortion on temperature is different for the two types of line shapes, however: ∼T2 for homogeneous and ∼T−1 for inhomogeneous broadening. For most rare-earth doped glasses and crystals at room temperature, the average degree of distortion is expected to be on the order of 5% or less, although the actual discrepancy in the spectral wings can be much larger. The effects described here are likely to be of importance when using McCumber’s theory to obtain accurate cross section values in the spectral wings of rare-earth transitions.

Journal of Applied Physics•Jul 1, 2002•46 citations

Frequency Domain Spectroscopy in Rare-Earth-Doped Gain Media

Emir Salih Magden, Patrick T. Callahan, Nanxi Li +6 more

Many spectroscopic techniques today rely on time-resolved measurements under short excitation pulses. Instead of using a chopped pump excitation, or ultrafast optical pulses, we expand on and apply the previously developed set of frequency domain methods to analyze the population level dynamics in rare-earth-doped media. By identifying the full frequency response of the gain medium, this method can accurately yield excited state lifetimes and can also be used to estimate transition cross-sections. The accuracy of the frequency domain methods are verified with Er3+-and Tm3+-doped fibers, and an Al2O3:Tm3+waveguide, recovering similar results as reported by time-resolved techniques. The complete frequency domain model presented here can be used in characterization of novel optical gain media, and can provide insights into population dynamics in solid state amplifiers and lasers.

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics•Feb 15, 2018•10 citations

Study of the complex atomic susceptibility of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

E. Desurvire

A study of the complex atomic susceptibility of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers operating near the 1.53- mu m transition (/sup 4/I/sub 13/2/-/sup 4/I/sub 15/2/) developed from a semiclassical theoretical description is presented. Expressions for the emission cross section sigma /sub e/( lambda ) and absorption cross section sigma /sub a/( lambda ) of erbium:glass as a quasi-three-level laser system with Stark-split sublevel manifolds are derived. The results are used to calculate the cross sections of aluminosilicate erbium-doped fibers at low temperatures (T=4.2, 77 K) and at room temperature. It is demonstrated that an expression for the gain coefficient of the fiber amplifier can be derived from the expression of the susceptibility. Using Kramers-Kronig relations, an expression for the refractive index change in the fiber is derived. The theoretical spectral gain profile of the fiber amplifier and concurrent refractive index changes are analyzed for different pumping regimes.>

Journal of Lightwave Technology•Jan 1, 1990•138 citations

Evaluation of ^4I_15/2 and ^4I_13/2 Stark-level energies in erbium-doped aluminosilicate glass fibers

E. Desurvire, J. R. Simpson

Spectroscopic measurements of fluorescence and absorption in an erbium-doped fiber permit the evaluation of the Stark-level energies of the (4)I(15/2) and (4)I(13/2) manifolds in Er:glass. The data permit the allocation of the individual laser transitions associated with the room-temperature gain spectrum of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers operating near lambda = 1.53 microm.

Optics Letters•May 15, 1990•130 citations

Optical decoherence and spectral diffusion in an erbium-doped silica glass fiber featuring long-lived spin sublevels

Lucile Veissier, Mohsen Falamarzi Askarani, Thomas Lutz +4 more

Understanding decoherence in cryogenically cooled rare-earth-ion doped glass fibers is of fundamental interest and a prerequisite for applications of these material in quantum information applications. Here we study the coherence properties in a weakly doped erbium silica glass fiber motivated by our recent observation of efficient and long-lived Zeeman sublevel storage in this material and by its potential for applications at telecommunication wavelengths. We analyze photon echo decays as well as the potential mechanisms of spectral diffusion that can be caused by coupling with dynamic disorder modes that are characteristic for glassy hosts, and by the magnetic dipole-dipole interactions between ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$ ions. We also investigate the effective linewidth as a function of magnetic field, temperature, and time, and then present a model that describes these experimental observations. We highlight that the operating conditions (0.6 K and 0.05 T) at which we previously observed efficient spectral hole burning coincide with those for narrow linewidths (1 MHz)---an important property for applications that has not been reported before for a rare-earth-ion doped glass.

arXiv:1609.07406•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Nov 21, 2016•25 citations
In this paper, we present a low-temperature study of rare earth doped glasses, which are important for creating compact, efficient gain media. We resolved effective Stark components of erbium doped glasses by analyzing their absorption cross sections at T=293K and T=110K. Using these Stark energy levels and the McCumber theory, we calculated the radiative lifetime of the I/-I/ transition in erbium. Our calculated lifetime agrees with the measured lifetime for this transition better than previously accepted methods.
The validity of the theory of McCumber [Phys. Rev.136, A954-A957 (1964)] has been tested by applying it to a number of ground-state transition in various rare-earth-doped glasses. Special attention was given to those aspects of the experimental procedure that can lead to systematic errors, such as reabsorption of fluorescence and baseline subtraction uncertainties in the absorption measurements. To ensure consistency between absorption and fluorescence measurements, we used the same geometry for light collection and measurement. With these experimental procedures properly implemented, we find that in all cases there is excellent agreement between the spectral shape of calculated and measured cross-section spectra at room temperature. This is true even for the thermally coupled (2H9/2,4F5/2) and 4F3/2 levels of Nd, which span an energy range of ∼2000 cm−1, much larger than the typical width of a single Stark level manifold. The results suggest that, at room temperature, the McCumber theory is not restricted to crystalline hosts but remains valid for the broader transitions characteristic of rare-earth-doped glass.
The relation between absorption and emission spectra in a rare-earth doped solid is explored analytically and through numerical simulations on a model system. It is found that the widely used theory of McCumber [D. E. McCumber, Phys. Rev. 136, A954 (1964)] is strictly valid only when the linewidth of each individual transition between Stark levels is ≪kBT. When this assumption is relaxed, deviations between actual simulated spectra and McCumber-calculated spectra are found for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening. The McCumber transform introduces a characteristic distortion of each component transition, in which the low-energy side of the spectrum is increased, and the high-energy side is decreased. The average degree of distortion for the model system is calculated to be 5% for a homogeneous width of 50 cm−1 at room temperature, but only 1% for a purely inhomogeneous width of 50 cm−1. For both homogeneous and inhomogeneous spectra, the distortion varies with the linewidth Δν as (Δν)3/2. The dependence of the distortion on temperature is different for the two types of line shapes, however: ∼T2 for homogeneous and ∼T−1 for inhomogeneous broadening. For most rare-earth doped glasses and crystals at room temperature, the average degree of distortion is expected to be on the order of 5% or less, although the actual discrepancy in the spectral wings can be much larger. The effects described here are likely to be of importance when using McCumber’s theory to obtain accurate cross section values in the spectral wings of rare-earth transitions.
Many spectroscopic techniques today rely on time-resolved measurements under short excitation pulses. Instead of using a chopped pump excitation, or ultrafast optical pulses, we expand on and apply the previously developed set of frequency domain methods to analyze the population level dynamics in rare-earth-doped media. By identifying the full frequency response of the gain medium, this method can accurately yield excited state lifetimes and can also be used to estimate transition cross-sections. The accuracy of the frequency domain methods are verified with Er3+-and Tm3+-doped fibers, and an Al2O3:Tm3+waveguide, recovering similar results as reported by time-resolved techniques. The complete frequency domain model presented here can be used in characterization of novel optical gain media, and can provide insights into population dynamics in solid state amplifiers and lasers.
A study of the complex atomic susceptibility of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers operating near the 1.53- mu m transition (/sup 4/I/sub 13/2/-/sup 4/I/sub 15/2/) developed from a semiclassical theoretical description is presented. Expressions for the emission cross section sigma /sub e/( lambda ) and absorption cross section sigma /sub a/( lambda ) of erbium:glass as a quasi-three-level laser system with Stark-split sublevel manifolds are derived. The results are used to calculate the cross sections of aluminosilicate erbium-doped fibers at low temperatures (T=4.2, 77 K) and at room temperature. It is demonstrated that an expression for the gain coefficient of the fiber amplifier can be derived from the expression of the susceptibility. Using Kramers-Kronig relations, an expression for the refractive index change in the fiber is derived. The theoretical spectral gain profile of the fiber amplifier and concurrent refractive index changes are analyzed for different pumping regimes.>
Understanding decoherence in cryogenically cooled rare-earth-ion doped glass fibers is of fundamental interest and a prerequisite for applications of these material in quantum information applications. Here we study the coherence properties in a weakly doped erbium silica glass fiber motivated by our recent observation of efficient and long-lived Zeeman sublevel storage in this material and by its potential for applications at telecommunication wavelengths. We analyze photon echo decays as well as the potential mechanisms of spectral diffusion that can be caused by coupling with dynamic disorder modes that are characteristic for glassy hosts, and by the magnetic dipole-dipole interactions between Er3+{\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}Er3+ ions. We also investigate the effective linewidth as a function of magnetic field, temperature, and time, and then present a model that describes these experimental observations. We highlight that the operating conditions (0.6 K and 0.05 T) at which we previously observed efficient spectral hole burning coincide with those for narrow linewidths (1 MHz)---an important property for applications that has not been reported before for a rare-earth-ion doped glass.