β\beta-BaB2_2O4_4 deep UV monolithic walk-off compensating tandem

The generation of watt-level cw narrow-linewidth sources at specific deep UV wavelengths corresponding to atomic cooling transitions usually employs external cavity-enhanced second-harmonic generation (SHG) of moderate-power visible lasers in birefringent materials. In this work, we investigate a novel approach to cw deep-UV generation by employing the low-loss BBO in a monolithic walkoff-compensating structure [Zondy {\it{et al}}, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B {\bf{20}} (2003) 1675] to simultaneously enhance the effective nonlinear coefficient while minimizing the UV beam ellipticity under tight focusing. As a preliminary step to cavity-enhanced operation, and in order to apprehend the design difficulties stemming from the extremely low acceptance angle of BBO, we investigate and analyze the single-pass performance of a $L_c=8$mm monolithic walk-off compensating structure made of 2 optically-contacted BBO plates cut for type-I critically phase-matched SHG of a cw $\lambda=570.4$nm dye laser. As compared with a bulk crystal of identical length, a sharp UV efficiency enhancement factor of 1.65 has been evidenced with the tandem structure, but at $\sim-1$nm from the targeted fundamental wavelength, highlighting the sensitivity of this technique when applied to a highly birefringent material such as BBO. Solutions to angle cut residual errors are identified so as to match accurately more complex periodic-tandem structure performance to any target UV wavelength, opening the prospect for high-power, good beam quality deep UV cw laser sources for atom cooling and trapping.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Opt. Commu

Spectroscopic study of red-light-emitting centers in K2Al 2B2O7: Fe single crystals

We report on spectroscopic study of red-light-emitting centers in K 2Al2B2O7 (KABO) single crystals containing ca. 2 ppm of Fe3+. Owing to the low Fe3+- concentration, KABO does not show noticeable absorption due to Fe3+ d-d-transitions in the visible spectral region, but it exhibits the charge-transfer (CT) UV-absorption bands O-Fe at 4.7, 5.7 and 6.5 eV. The red photoluminescence at 1.675 eV (FWHM = 0.173 eV) is due to intracenter 4T1 (4G) → 6A1 (6S) transitions in Fe3+ ions. Because of partial overlapping of the fundamental absorption edge of the crystal, where mobile excitons are created, and a broad CT absorption band at 6.5 eV, the most intensive red emission occurs at 7 K upon excitation in the excitonic energy region. The presence of two nonequivalent Al2O7 clusters in KABO lattice provides two different types of red-light-emitting centers in the form of Fe3+ ion occupied the Al3+ tetrahedral site. Superposition of their luminescence bands determines both the spectrum and temperature dependence of red emission in KABO at T = 7-80 K: two bands with the ratio of intensities of ca. 2:1 are 20 meV-shifted relative to each other; two-stage thermal quenching obeys the Mott law with ET = 9 and 20 meV. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Optical and photoelectron spectroscopy studies of KPb2Cl 5 and RbPb2Cl5 laser crystals

The paper presents the results of experimental study of electronic structure of RbPb2Cl5 and KPb2Cl5 laser crystals performed by the optical and photoelectron spectroscopy methods. On the basis of the optical absorption and low-temperature reflection spectra of these crystals we have determined the energy positions of the edges of the low-energy tail of the host absorption, the positions of the first excitonic absorption peaks, and exciton binding energies. The bandgap widths of these crystals at 8 K were estimated as Eg = 4.83 and 4.79 eV, respectively. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of RbPb2Cl 5 and KPb2Cl5 crystals were made on the basis of the core states photoelectron spectra. The elemental composition of the (0 0 1) surfaces of the crystals, the chemical state of the host atoms, the electronic structure of the valence band of the crystals were discussed on the basis on the spectroscopic data. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

LiGaSe2 optical parametric oscillator pumped by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

Optical parametric oscillation is demonstrated for the first time with the chalcogenide nonlinear crystal LiGaSe2 pumped by a nanosecond Nd:YAG laser. Angle tuning provides coverage of the 4.8–9.9 μm spectral range in the mid-IR by idler pulses

Optical pump-probe processes in Nd 3+ doped KPb2Br5, RbPb2Br5, and KPb2CI5

Recently, laser activity has been achieved in the low phonon energy, moisture-resistant bromide host crystals, neodymium-doped potassium lead bromide (Nd{sup 3+}:KPb{sub 2}Br{sub 5}) and rubidium lead bromide (Nd{sup 3+}:RbPb{sub 2}Br{sub 5}). Laser activity at 1.07 {micro}m was observed for both crystalline materials. Laser operation at the new wavelengths 1.18 {micro}m and 0.97 {micro}m resulting from the {sup 4}F{sub 5/2}+{sup 2}H{sub 9/2} {yields} {sup 4}I{sub J} transitions (J=13/2 and 11/2) in Nd:RPB was achieved for the first time in a solid state laser material. In this paper we present cw pump-probe spectra in order to discuss excited state absorption, reabsorption processes due to the long lived lower laser levels as well as possible depopulation mechanisms feasible for more efficient laser operation in these crystals. The bromides will be compared with potassium lead chloride (Nd{sup 3+}:KPb{sub 2}Cl{sub 5})