The effect of excitation intensity variation and silver nanoparticle codoping on nonlinear optical properties of mixed tellurite and zinc oxide glass doped with Nd2O3 studied through ultrafast z-scan spectroscopy

Abstract

The research on Nd 3þ doped new solid-state laser hosts with specific thermo-mechanical and optical properties is very active. Nd 3þ doped tellurite glasses are suitable for these applications. They have high linear and nonlinear refraction index, wide transmittance range. The TeO 2 -ZnO (TZO) glass considered in the present work combines all those features and the nonlinear optical properties can be used for the development of Kerr-lens mode-locked sub picosecond lasers. Recently the laser performance of Nd 3þ doped TZO glass and was reported and laser slope efficiency of 21% was observed. We investigate how the intensity variation and the silver nanoparticles codoping affects the nonlinear optical properties of Nd 3þ doped TZO glasses. Intensity dependent nonlinear refraction indices coefficients at 750, 800 and 850 nm were observed. The nonlinear optical features were obtained through ultrafast single beam zscan technique with excitations at 750, 800 and 850 nm and are up to two orders of magnitude higher than those reported in the literature.

Process Oxygen Flow Influence on the Structural Properties of Thin Films Obtained by Co-Sputtering of (TeO2)x-ZnO and Au onto Si Substrates

“…Among oxi-tellurites, TZ glasses combine good mechanical stability, chemical durability, a high linear and nonlinear refractive index, low phonon energy (wavenumber around ∼ 750 cm −1 ) when compared to silicate and borate glasses, and a wide transmission window (0.4–6 μm). TZ glasses are capable of incorporating rare-earth ions and metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with an extensive range of photonic applications [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] and are potentially suitable materials for lasers and solar cells [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Some studies indicated that zinc tellurite bulk glasses (TeO 2 ) 100-x (ZnO) x (x = 0 to 10 wt%) form homogeneous solids and do not show phase separation [ 9 , 10 ], whereas the crystalline structure presents several polymorphous modifications in a variety of lattices in which the interatomic separation and interatomic bonding are slightly different [ 11 ]. Although the lattice polymorphisms are an intrinsic characteristic of TZ matrices, their interesting macroscopic properties have been advantageously employed as previously mentioned [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Another important application refers to the conduction and reversible memory phenomena of thin TeO 2 -ZnO-Au (TZA) films [ 12 ].…”

Compósitos metal-dielétrico, a partir de vidros óxidos de germânio e telúrio dopados com íons Nd3+ e nanopartículas metálicas para aplicações em amplificadores ópticos que atuem na região infravermelho.

“…Os vidros formam uma importante classe de materiais hospedeiros para os íons terrasraras, particularmente para o Nd 3+ , a primeira terra-rara trivalente a ser usada em um laser de estado sólido. Comparados com os cristais, os vidros têm uma capacidade maior de absorver as terras-raras e têm maior facilidade de serem fabricados, em grandes volumes e baixo custo [1,2].…”

“…Matrizes vítreas produzidas com óxidos de germânio e telúrio foram escolhidas devido ao alto potencial para aplicações fotônicas em função de algumas propriedades : alto índice de refração (≤ 2,0), boa resistência mecânica, durabilidade química, baixa energia de fônon (~700 cm -1 ) quando comparadas aos vidros de silicatos e boratos e larga janela de transmissão, desde a região do visível até a do infravermelho médio (400 -4500 nm) [2,7,8].…”

“…ordem ou até duas ordens de grandeza, são superiores aos relatados para vidros teluritos na faixa de 750 e 850 nm. O índice de refração não-linear é aumentado devido ao aumento do campo local que envolve as nanopartículas de prata[2].Essa é uma das poucas referências[78] encontradas na literatura com estudo em 1331 nm em vidros dopados com íons Nd 3+ .Tendo sido escolhida por ser uma das mais recentes. Tabela 2.6 e Figura 2.19[24].…”