RUI: Investigation of Spectroscopic and Laser Properties of Rare Earth Ions in Crystalline Laser Hosts Using High Resolution Spectroscopic Techniques

小行星9303448 本基金的研究目的是利用激光光谱技术研究掺杂在晶体基质材料中的稀土离子的光学性质。 两个重要的钕基单晶：YVO 4：Nd 3+（1%）和CaMgZnY 2Ge 3 O 12：Nd 3+（2%）将进行初步研究。 对第一种材料有一些研究，但对第二种材料没有研究。 在项目的最后阶段，将研究一种更复杂的三氧化二铝掺杂材料：YAG：Cr 3+（1%），Tm 3+（5%），Ho 3+（1%）。 将对这些材料进行完整和系统的光谱研究，将它们的光学和激光特性与现有的激光材料进行比较，并评估这些材料作为激光器的潜力。 测量将包括不同温度下的吸收、发射和激发光谱以及荧光寿命。 近年来，这些材料受到了广泛关注，因为它们的发射波长福尔斯落在2 μ m范围内，由于在该波长处的强吸水性，这已被证明对于许多医疗应用非常有吸引力。Ho ~（3+）中的2.1um ~（5I 7 - 5I 8）激光跃迁是有吸引力的，因为它的上能级寿命长，约为5 ms，允许比Nd：YAG更大的能量存储，并且它的人眼安全波长。 研究这种晶体中从Cr 3+到Tm 3+并最终到Ho 3+的能量转移的重要机制将为参与该项目的本科生提供极好的教育经验;该资助是NSF本科院校研究（RUI）活动的一部分。 拟议的工作是在光子学领域的当前科学兴趣的一个领域，是技术相关的，并具有很好的潜力，为参与的本科生谁将接触到现代光谱设备，技术和理论提供一个有益的教育机会。 ***

9303448 Sardar Research on this grant aims to investigate the optical properties of rare earth ions doped in crystalline host materials using the techniques of laser spectroscopy. Two important neodymium-based single crystals: YVO4:Nd3+ (1 %) and CaMgZnY2Ge3012:Nd3+ (2%) will be studied initially. There have been some studies on the first material, but none on the second. In the final phase of the project, a more complex, triply-doped material: YAG: Cr3+ (1%), Tm3+ (5%), Ho3+ (1%) will be investigated. A complete and systematic spectroscopic investigation of these materials will be performed, their optical and laser properties will be compared with those of existing laser materials, and the potential of these materials as lasers will be evaluated. The measurements will include absorption, emission, and excitation spectra and fluorescence lifetimes at different temperatures. %%% These materials have received much attention in recent years since their emission wavelength falls in the 2um range, which has proven to be very attractive for a number of medical applications because of the strong water absorption at this wavelength. The 2.1um 5I7 - 5I8 laser transition in Ho3+ is attractive because of its long upper laser level lifetime, of the order of 5 ms, permitting larger energy storage than Nd:YAG, and its eye-safe wavelength. Study of the important mechanism of energy transfer from Cr3+ to Tm3+ and finally to Ho3+ in this crystal will provide an excellent educational experience for undergraduates involved in the project; this grant is part of NSF's Research in Undergraduate Institutions(RUI) activity. The proposed work is in an area of current scientific interest in the field of photonics, is technologically relevant, and has excellent potential to provide a rewarding educational opportunity for the participating undergraduates who will be exposed to modern spectroscopic equipment, techniques, and theories. ***