H. Sakr

Mid-infrared photoluminescence in small-core fiber of praseodymium-ion doped selenide-based chalcogenide glass

Rare earth (RE)-ion doped chalcogenide glasses are attractive for mid-infrared (MIR) fiber lasers for operation >4 μm. Our prior modeling suggests that praseodymium (Pr) is a suitable RE-ion dopant for realizing a selenide-based, chalcogenide-glass, step index fiber (SIF) MIR fiber laser operating at 4-5 μm wavelength. Fabrication of RE-ion doped chalcogenide glass fiber, especially with a small core, is a demanding process because crystallization must be avoided during the heat treatments required to effect shaping. Here, a 500 ppmw (parts per million parts, by weight) Pr3+-doped Ge-As-Ga-Se glass SIF with a 10 μm or 15 μm diameter core is reported; the cladding glass is Ge-As-Ga-Se-S. The multistage process to produce the fiber is outlined. Thermal and optical properties of the core/clad. glass pair, and the crystalline/amorphous nature and optical behavior of the small core fiber are reported. MIR photoluminescence and lifetime of a RE-ion doped chalcogenide glass small core fiber are reported for the first time.

Superior photoluminescence (PL) of Pr 3+ -In, compared to Pr 3+ -Ga, selenide-chalcogenide bulk glasses and PL of optically-clad fiber

The photoluminescent-(PL)-properties of Pr³⁺-ions in indium-containing selenide-chalcogenide bulk-glasses are found to be superior when compared with gallium-containing analogues. We observe circa doubling of mid-infrared (MIR) PL intensity from 3.5 to 6 μm for bulk glasses, pumped at 1.55 μm wavelength, and an increased excited state lifetime at 4.7 μm. PL is reported in optically-clad fiber. Ga addition is well known to enhance RE³⁺ solubility and PL behavior, and is believed to form ([RE³⁺]-Se-[Ga(III)]) in the glasses. Indium has the same outer electronic-structure as gallium for solvating the RE-ions. Moreover, indium is heavier and promotes lower phonon energy locally around the RE-ion, thereby enhancing the RE-ion PL behavior, as observed here.

Mid-infrared emission in Tb 3+ -doped selenide glass fiber

The mid-infrared (MIR) emission behavior of Tb3+-doped Ge–As–Ga–Se bulk glasses (500, 1000, and 1500 ppmw Tb3+) and unstructured fiber (500 ppmw Tb3+) is investigated when pumping at 2.013 μm. A broad emission band is observed at 4.3–6.0 μm corresponding to F57→F67, with an observed emission lifetime of 12.9 ms at 4.7 μm. The F47 level is depopulated nonradiatively and so it is proposed that Tb3+-doped Ge–As–Ga–Se fiber may operate as a quasi-three-level MIR fiber laser. Underlying glass-impurity vibrational absorption bands are numerically removed to give the true Tb3+ absorption cross section, as required for Judd–Ofelt (J–O) analysis. Radiative transition rates calculated from J–O theory are compared with measured lifetimes. A numerical model of the three-level Tb3+-doped fiber laser is developed for Tb3+ doping of 8.25×1024  ions m−3 (i.e., 500 ppmw) and dependence of laser performance on fiber length, output coupler reflectivity, pump wavelength, signal wavelength, and fiber background loss is calculated. Results indicate the feasibility of an efficient three-level MIR fiber laser operating within 4.5–5.3 μm, pumped at either 2.013 or 2.95 μm.

Theoretical study of population inversion in active doped MIR chalcogenide glass fibre lasers (invited).

We study the mechanism of the population inversion in mid-infrared fibre lasers based on a chalcogenide glass host doped with active lanthanide ions. Three lanthanide dopant ions are considered: terbium, dysprosium and praseodymium. We predict the relevant trivalent ion level populations and gain. The simulation parameters were obtained by fabricating and optically characterising a series of trivalent ion doped chalcogenide glass samples. We also provide simple analytical expressions that aid the design of the cascade lasing process.

Towards mid-infrared fiber-lasers: rare earth ion doped, indium-containing, selenide bulk glasses and fiber

Chalcogenide glasses are promising materials for mid-infrared (IR) fiber lasers (i.e. 3 - 25 μm wavelength range). These glasses exhibit low phonon energies, together with large refractive indices, rare earth (RE-) ion solubility and sufficient mechanical and chemical robustness. Optical quality of the fiber is key. Gallium is known to promote RE-ion solubility in chalcogenide glasses, probably forming a [Pr(III)] - Se - [Ga(III)] associated type complex. Here, indium is investigated as an alternative additive to gallium in Pr3+-doped Ge-As-Se chalcogenide glasses. Indium has the same outer electronic structure as gallium. Moreover, indium has the advantage of being heavier than gallium, potentially promoting a lower phonon-energy, local environment of the RE-dopant. Zero to ~2000 ppmw (nominal parts per million by weight) Pr3+- doped Ge-As-In-Se bulk glasses are prepared using the melt-quench method. ~500 ppmw Pr3+- doped Ge-As-In-Se, optically-clad fiber is realized via fiber-drawing of extruded fiberoptic preforms. Fiber absorption and emission spectra are collected and compared with those of the bulk glasses.

A study of MIR photoluminescence from Pr3+ doped chalcogenide fibers pumped at near-infrared wavelengths

We perform a numerical analysis of mid-infrared photoluminescence emitted by praseodymium (III) doped chalcogenide selenide glass pumped at near-infrared wavelengths. The results obtained show that an effective inversion of level populations can be achieved using both 1480 nm and 1595 nm laser diodes. The rate of the spontaneous emission achieved when pumping at 1480 nm and 1595 nm is comparable to this achieved using the standard pumping wavelength of 2040 nm.

Ge-Sb-Se glass fiber-optics for in-vivo mid-infrared optical biopsy

In the UK, it is now recognised that 1 in 2 people born after 1960 will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. Diagnosing patients whilst in the early stages drastically improves their chances of survival but up until now the gold standard for cancer detection is via a lengthy excision biopsy procedure, which relies on the skill of a histopathologist. Evidently, the need for a faster solution is paramount. The mid-infrared (MIR) spectral region covers the wavelengths 3-25 μm and characteristic vibrational spectra unique to each molecular type. Subtle changes in the specific spectral response within this region are indicative of changes within the cells relative to normal cells, signifying the presence or absence of a disease. Our goal is to carry out disease diagnosis in vivo. Reaching these wavelengths has previously presented difficulties as conventional MIR blackbody light sources are weak and optical fibers for transmitting MIR light to/from tissue in vivo can be limited by strong material absorption such as silica glass >2.4 μm and tellurite, and heavy metal fluoride, >4.75 μm. However, chalcogenide glasses have been shown to transmit MIR light out to 25 μm. This paper reports on a glass composition in the Ge-Sb-Se system and its suitability as an optical fiber for the transmission of MIR to and from tissue samples, enabling in vivo mapping for an immediate diagnostic response- a technique termed ‘optical biopsy’.

Development of praseodymium-doped, selenide chalcogenide glass, step-index fibre towards mid-infrared fibre lasers

Chalcogenide glasses are promising materials for mid-infrared (MIR) fibre optic applications i.e. 3-25 μm wavelength. Their low phonon energy is attractive not only for passive mid-IR transmission fibre-conduits but also for active fibre. For the latter, rare earth (RE-)-ion doped chalcogenide glasses have been investigated, as direct emission mid-IR fibre lasers. The quality of the chalcogenide glass fibre is key to this application. RE-ion addition to the chalcogenide glasses can lead to devitrification. Gallium has been identified as a useful additive to help successfully solubilise the RE-ions and it is thought that gallium complexes the RE-ions in the glass matrix. We investigate here replacing gallium with indium. Indium shares Group 13 of the New Periodic Table with gallium and so exhibits similar chemical behaviour. Indium is heavier than gallium, potentially promoting lower phonon energy locally at the RE-ion. We have found enhanced fluorescence behaviour of the RE-ion in bulk glasses formulated with indium rather than gallium. Here, drawing of step index fibre (SIF) based on ~ 500 ppmw (parts per million by weight) Pr3+-doped Ge-As-(In or Ga)-Se chalcogenide glasses is successfully carried out. MIR fibre loss of the Pr3+-doped SIFs is measured as well as fibre photoluminescence in the range 3-6 μm.

Modelling of multimode selenide-chalcogenide glass fibre based mir spontaneous emission sources

Chalcogenide glass fibres have been demonstrated as a suitable medium for the realisation of spontaneous emission sources for mid-infrared photonics applications with a particular emphasis on sensor technology. Such sources give a viable alternative to other solutions due to their potentially low cost, high reliability and robustness when pumped using commercially available semiconductor lasers. We present a comprehensive analysis of the properties of selenide-chalcogenide glass fibres applied as spontaneous emission sources. We extract the modelling parameters from measurements using in house fabricated bulk glass and fibre samples. We apply the well-established rate equations approach to determine the level populations, the distribution of the photon intensity within the fibre and the output power levels. We compare the modelling results with experiment.

The Modelling of Fibre Lasers for Mid-Infrared Wavelengths

This chapter describes numerical investigations of some of the possibilities for obtaining mid-infrared laser action in rare earth doped chalcogenide glass fibres, starting from some basic laser physics and progressing through the development of numerical fibre laser models and the experimental techniques for extracting modelling parameters.