Zhu Cong-Shan

Spectroscopic properties of Nd3+-doped high silica glass prepared by sintering porous glass

A new kind of Nd3+, -doped high silica glass (SiO2 > 96% (mass fraction)) was obtained by sintering porous glass impregnated with Nd3+, ions. The absorption and luminescence properties of high silica glass doped with different Nd3+, concentrations were studied. The intensity parameters Omega(t) (t = 2, 4, 6), spontaneous emission probability, fluorescence lifetime, radiative quantum efficiency, fluorescence branching ratio, and stimulated emission cross section were calculated using the Judd-Ofelt theory. The optimal Nd3+ concentration in high silica glass was 0.27% (mole fraction) because of its high quantum efficiency and emission intensity. By comparing the spectroscopic parameters with other Nd3+ doped oxide glasses and commercial silicate glasses, the Nd3+-doped high silica glasses are likely to be a promising material used for high power and high repetition rate lasers.

Influence of Femtosecond Laser Irradiation and Heat Treatment on Precipitation of Silver Nanoparticles in Glass

Silver nanoparticles were precipitated inside an Ag2O-doped glass by femtosecond laser irradiation and successive heat treatment. The influence of heat treatment temperature on the precipitation of silver nanoparticles was investigated. Absorption spectra show that the femtosecond laser irradiation results in an apparent decrease of the treatment temperature for the precipitation of Ag nanoparticles. We demonstrate the control of precipitation, dissolution and growth of silver nanoparticles inside glass by changing the heat treatment temperature or using further femtosecond laser irradiation.

Broadband Infrared Luminescence of Bismuth-Doped Borosilicate Glasses

We prepare bismuth-doped borosilicate glasses and the luminescence properties in infrared wavelength region are investigated. Transmission spectrum, fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence decay curve are measured. The glasses exhibit a broad infrared luminescence peaking at 1340 nm with the full width at half maximum of about 205 nm, and lifetime of 273 μs when excited by an 808-nm laser diode. The glasses are promising materials for broadband optical amplifiers and tunable lasers.

Thermal Stress-Induced Birefringence in Borate Glass Irradiated by Femtosecond Laser Pulses

Thermal stress-induced birefringence in borate glass which has been irradiated by 800-nm femtosecond laser pulses is observed under cross-polarized light. Due to the high temperature and pressure formed in the focal volume, the material at the edge of the micro-modified region is compressed between the expanding region and the unheated one, then stress emerges. Raman spectroscopy is used to investigate the stress distribution in the micro-modified region and indicates the redistributions of density and refractive index by Raman peak shift. We suggest that this technique can develop waveguide polarizers and Fresnel zone plates in integrated optics.

Fabrication of Microstructures in LiF Crystals by a Femtosecond Laser

We report the space-selective formation of colour centres and refractive index change in LiF crystals at room temperature by an 800 nm Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser irradiation. Optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra have been measured for the crystal before and after the laser irradiation. The absorption spectra indicate F and F3+ colour centres are induced in LiF after the laser irradiation. When the temperature of heat treatment reaches 300°C, the absorption peak disappears, indicating that the induced colour centres are bleached. The induced refractive index change is also evaluated. A mechanism for the formation of colour centres and refractive index change is proposed.

High Quantum Efficiency and High Concentration Erbium-Doped Silica Glasses Fabricated by Sintering Nanoporous Glasses

A new method was used to prepare erbium-doped high silica (SiO2% > 96%) glasses by sintering nanoporous glasses. The concentration of erbium ions in high silica glasses can be considerably more than that in silica glasses prepared by using conventional methods. The fluorescence of 1532 nm has an FWHM (Full Wave at Half Maximum) of 50 nm, wider than 35 nm of EDSFA (erbium-doped silica fiber amplifer), and hence the glass possesses potential application in broadband fiber amplifiers. The Judd-Ofelt theoretical analysis reflects that the quantum efficiency of this erbium-doped glass is about 0.78, although the erbium concentration in this glass (6 x 103) is about twenty times higher than that in silica glass. These excellent characteristics of Er-doped high silica glass will be conducive to its usage in optical amplifiers and microchip lasers.

Transparent Ni2+-Doped MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 Glass Ceramics with Broadband Infrared Luminescence

We report transparent Ni2+-doped ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 system glass-ceramics with broadband infrared luminescence. After heat-treatment, ZnAl2O4 crystallite was precipitated in the glasses, and its average size increased with increasing heat-treatment temperature. No infrared emission was detected in the as-prepared glass samples, while broadband infrared luminescence centered at 1310 nm with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 300 nm was observed from the glass-ceramics. The peak position of the infrared luminescence showed a blue-shift with increasing heat-treatment temperature, but a red-shift with an increase in NiO concentration. The mechanisms of the observed phenomena were discussed. These glass-ceramics are promising as materials for super broadband optical amplifier and tunable laser. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Femtosecond laser-induced darkening in optical glasses

The thresholds of laser-induced darkening in different optical glasses irradiated by a 800 nm, 120 fs, 1 kHz Ti:sapphire laser are reported for the first time. Absorption spectra of the glasses before and after irradiation were measured. The absorption in visible region of the irradiated glasses increased greatly after irradiation and then decreased slightly along with time. The mechanism of the laser-induced darkening was demonstrated based on the ESR measurement and excimer laser irradiation results.

Preparation and Fluorescent Property of Eu-Doped High Silica Glasses

A method to fabricate europium ions doped-high silica glass for transparent fluorescence materials based on the fabrication and sintering technique of nano-porous silica glass was reported. Glasses impregnated with Eu ions and sintered at above 1150 °C in a reduction atmosphere show a very strong blue light from an emission band at about 430 nm due to the 4f65d→4f7(8S7/2) transition of the Eu2+ ions. On the other hand, the Eu-doped glass obtained by co-impregnated with Y3+ and V5+ ions and sintering in oxidation atmosphere behaves a very strong red emission band at about 615 nm with a UV excitation. An appearance of vanadate band in the excitation spectrum of Eu3+, Y3+ and V5+ ions co-doped high silica glass implies an effective energy transferring from VO43- to Eu3+ and effective excitation of Eu3+ by about 500 nm strong broad emission of VO43-.

Upconversion Luminescence of Ce3+ Doped BK7 Glass by Femtosecond Laser Irradiation

Near-infrared to visible upconversion luminescence was observed in a multicomponent silicate (BK7) glass containing Ce3+ ions under focused infrared femtosecond laser irradiation. The emission spectra show that the upconversion luminescence comes from the 4f-5d transition of the Ce3+ ions. The relationship between the intensity of the Ce3+ emission and the pump power reveals that a three-photon absorption predominates in the conversion process from the near-infrared into the blue luminescence. The analysis of the upconversion mechanism suggests that the upconversion luminescence may come from a three-photon simultaneous absorption that leads to a population of the 5d level in which the characteristic luminescence occurs.