Optical measurement of the effect of electric fields on the nuclear spin coherence of rare-earth ions in solids.

We show that the coherence properties of the nuclear spin states of rare-earth ions in solids can be manipulated by small applied electric fields. This was done by measuring the Stark effect on the nuclear quadrupole transitions of (151)Eu in Y(2)SiO(5) (YSO) using a combination of Raman heterodyne optical detection and Stark modulated quadrupole echoes to achieve high sensitivity. The measured Stark coefficients were 0.42 and 1.0 Hz cm/V for the two quadrupole transitions at 34.54 and 46.20 MHz, respectively. The long decoherence time of the nuclear spin states (25 ms) allowed us to make the measurements in very low electric fields of ∼ 10 V/cm, which produced 100% modulation of the nuclear spin echo, and to measure Stark shifts of ∼ 1 Hz or 20 ppm of the inhomogeneous linewidth.

Narrow optical homogeneous linewidths in rare earth doped nanocrystals.

A homogeneous linewidth of 85.6±4.4 kHz is reported in 60 nm Eu3+ doped Y2O3 nanocrystals at 1.3 K. This linewidth was measured by two-pulse photon echoes on highly scattering powders using heterodyne detection. Spectral diffusion was also investigated by three-pulse photon echoes and resulted in a limited broadening of the homogenous linewidth of about 250 kHz over 120 µs. Compared to achievable Rabi frequencies, in the range of several MHz, these values show that rare earth doped nanocrystals can be useful for applications in optical quantum information processing.

Red and orange laser operation of Pr:KYF4 pumped by a Nd:YAG/LBO laser at 469.1 nm and a InGaN laser diode at 444 nm.

We report the basic luminescence properties and the continuous-wave (CW) laser operation of a Pr(3+)-doped KYF(4) single crystal in the Red and Orange spectral regions by using a new pumping scheme. The pump source is an especially developed, compact, slightly tunable and intra-cavity frequency-doubled diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser delivering a CW output power up to about 1.4 W around 469.1 nm. At this pump wavelength, red and orange laser emissions are obtained at about 642.3 and 605.5 nm, with maximum output powers of 11.3 and 1 mW and associated slope efficiencies of 9.3% and 3.4%, with respect to absorbed pump powers, respectively. For comparison, the Pr:KYF(4) crystal is also pumped by a InGaN blue laser diode operating around 444 nm. In this case, the same red and orange lasers are obtained, but with maximum output powers of 7.8 and 2 mW and the associated slope efficiencies of 7 and 5.8%, respectively. Wavelength tuning for the two lasers is demonstrated by slightly tilting the crystal. Orange laser operation and laser wavelength tuning are reported for the first time.

Emission of photon echoes in a strongly scattering medium.

We observe the two- and three-pulse photon echo emission from a scattering powder, obtained by grinding a Pr3+:Y2SiO5 rare earth doped single crystal. We show that the collective emission is coherently constructed over several grains. A well defined atomic coherence can therefore be created between randomly placed particles. Observation of photon echo on powders as opposed to bulk materials opens the way to faster material development. More generally, time-domain resonant four-wave mixing offers an attractive approach to investigate coherent propagation in scattering media.

Internal temperature measurement of an ytterbium doped material under laser operation.

Temperature of the pumped volume of an ytterbium doped material has been measured while laser action is taking place. This is achieved by recording green emissions at 530 and 550 nm from Er3+ impurities. These emissions result from energy transfer upconversion processes between Yb3+ and Er3+. Experiments performed on a Yb3+:CaGdAlO4 crystal show the effect of pump power and laser wavelength on the sample internal temperature. Temperature variation along the sample length has also been measured. This method can complement data obtained by thermal cameras which can only access surface temperatures in most laser materials.