Obtaining the spectroscopic quality factor through the luminescent thermometry in 50Li2O · 45B2O3 · 5Al2O3 glasses doped with Nd3+ and fluorides.

Lithium-boron-aluminum (LBA) glasses doped with N d 3+ and fluorides were produced. From the absorption spectra, their Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, Ω 2,4,6, and spectroscopic quality factors were calculated. Exploiting their near infrared temperature dependent luminescence, we investigated their potential for optical thermometry based on the luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) methodology. Three LIR schemes were proposed, and relative sensitivity values up to 3.57±0.06% K -1 were obtained. From the temperature dependent luminescence, we alternatively calculated their corresponding spectroscopic quality factors. The results indicated that N d 3+-doped LBA glasses are promising systems for optical thermometry and as gain mediums for solid-state lasers.

Using a random laser to measure the content of protein in skim milk.

The luminescence of skim milk samples with distinct protein content doped with rhodamine B was investigated. The samples were excited by a nanosecond laser tuned at 532 nm, and the emission was characterized as a random laser. Its features were analyzed as a function of the protein aggregate content. The results showed a linear correlation between the random laser peak intensity and the protein content. This paper proposes a rapid detection photonic method to evaluate the protein content in skim milk based on the intensity of the random laser emission.

Chalcone-based molecules: Experimental and theoretical studies on the two-photon absorption and molecular first hyperpolarizability.

Five chalcone-based molecules denominated by C-3 ((E)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-one), C-4 ((E)-1,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one), C-5 ((E)-1-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one), C-6 ((E)-3-(naphthalen-1-yl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one) and C-7 ((E)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(naphthalen-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-one) were synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt reaction in solution of NaOH in water/ethanol 2:1. The aldehydes used were benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, and ß-naphthaldehyde, while the used ketones were acetophenone, p-methoxyacetophenone, and 3,4-methylenedioxyacetophenone. Z-scan and hyper-Rayleigh scattering techniques were used to study the nonlinear optical properties of these compounds in dichloromethane medium. By using Z-scan technique with femtosecond pulses, two-photon absorption cross-sections (σTPA) were determined, while the first molecular electronic hyperpolarizabilities (ßHRS) were evaluated by the hyper-Rayleigh scattering technique, with picosecond pulses. From the recorded two-photon absorption spectra, it was identified that compound C-7 presented the highest σTPA, regarding the HOMO-LUMO transition, with a value of 40 GM, while C-6 achieved the lowest value for the same transition with 13 GM. Concerning the values of the first molecular hyperpolarizability, compound C-4 presented the highest value, 38 × 10-30 cm4 statvolt-1, while C-3 presented the lowest ßHRS value of about 16 × 10-30 cm4 statvolt-1. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations were used to simulate the one- and two-photon absorption spectra, as well to predict the theoretical value of ßHRS in dichloromethane and vacuum medium.

Measuring milk fat content by random laser emission.

The luminescence spectra of milk containing rhodamine 6G are shown to exhibit typical signatures of random lasing when excited with 532 nm laser pulses. Experiments carried out on whole and skim forms of two commercial brands of UHT milk, with fat volume concentrations ranging from 0 to 4%, presented lasing threshold values dependent on the fat concentration, suggesting that a random laser technique can be developed to monitor such important parameter.

Unveiling square and triangular optical lattices: a comparative study.

We study square and triangular optical lattice formation using a diffraction technique with light-possessing orbital angular momentum (OAM). We demonstrate that it is possible to use Fraunhofer diffraction of light by a square aperture to unveil OAM about two times bigger than would be possible with a triangular aperture. We notice that the pattern remains truncated until a topological charge (TC) equal to 20 with good precision. Even though a square pattern cannot be used to determine the TC sign, it is possible to measure high order of the modulus and sign of the TC up to 20, combining patterns of the triangular and square apertures.

Upconversion emission of BaTiO3:Er3+ nanocrystals: influence of temperature and surrounding medium.

Here, we report the role of crystallite size and surrounding medium on the upconversion emission of Er3+ in BaTiO3 oxide nanocrystals. The samples were prepared by sol-emulsion-gel method and heat-treated at two different temperatures yielding powders containing nanoparticles of different sizes. Green (550 nm) and red (660 nm) upconversion emission were observed at room temperature from the 4S3/2 and 4F9/2 levels of BaTiO3:Er3+ nanocrystals. The pump power dependence study confirms that all these upconversion emission lines are a two-photon absorption process. We observed that the luminescence lifetime is shorter for the sample containing smaller particles. Optical thermometry experiments were performed in air, water and glycerol in a temperature range from 27.1 up to 47.1 degrees C aiming to use this material as a biological temperature sensor.

Red to green upconversion in Er(3+)-doped BaTiO3 nanorods.

We investigated the frequency upconversion (UC) process in BaTiO3:Er3+ nanocrystals for excitation wavelengths in the range 638 to 660 nm. Green upconversion emissions at 526 and 547 nm corresponding to 2H11/2 --> 4I15/2 and 4S3/2 --> 4I15/2 to transitions of the Er3+ were observed. The excitation spectrum for UC emissions presented three bands, due to ground state and excited state absorption of Er3+ ions. The UC intensity as a function of the laser power was investigated and it was found this a two-photon absorption process.

Red to blue tunable upconversion in Tm3+-doped ZrO2 nanocrystals.

The effect of dopant concentration on the blue upconversion (UPC) emission of Tm(3+) -doped ZrO(2) nanocrystals under different excitation wavelengths in the red region is reported. The UPC emissions are due to the f-f electronic transitions from excited states (1)G(4) and (1)D(2) of Tm(3+). We observed a chromatic change in the UPC with tuning the excitation wavelength. The UPC emission bands at 475, 488, and 501 nm are observed under excitation at 649 nm, but bands centered at 454 and 460 nm are observed when the excitation wavelength is tuned to 655 nm. The UPC emission could be tuned from 501 to 454 nm ( approximately 47 nm) by changing the excitation wavelength from 649 to 655 nm ( approximately 6 nm). The pump power dependence of the emission bands at 475, 488, and 501 nm were investigated on excitation intensity at 649 nm, and the emission bands at 454 and 460 nm are investigated on excitation intensity at 655 nm, which confirms that all of these UPC emission lines are a two-photon absorption process.