Recent startling interest for lanthanide luminescence is stimulated by the continuously expanding need for luminescent materials meeting the stringent requirements of telecommunication, lighting, electroluminescent devices, (bio-)analytical sensors and bio-imaging set-ups. This critical review describes the latest developments in (i) the sensitization of near-infrared luminescence, (ii) “soft” luminescent materials (liquid crystals, ionic liquids, ionogels), (iii) electroluminescent materials for organic light emitting diodes, with emphasis on white light generation, and (iv) applications in luminescent bio-sensing and bio-imaging based on time-resolved detection and multiphoton excitation (500 references).

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Lanthanide luminescence for functional materials and bio-sciences

We present the science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems, targeting an evolution in technology, that might lead to impacts and benefits reaching into most areas of society. This roadmap was developed within the framework of the European Graphene Flagship and outlines the main targets and research areas as best understood at the start of this ambitious project. We provide an overview of the key aspects of graphene and related materials (GRMs), ranging from fundamental research challenges to a variety of applications in a large number of sectors, highlighting the steps necessary to take GRMs from a state of raw potential to a point where they might revolutionize multiple industries. We also define an extensive list of acronyms in an effort to standardize the nomenclature in this emerging field.

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Science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems

The rise in output power from rare-earth-doped fiber sources over the past decade, via the use of cladding-pumped fiber architectures, has been dramatic, leading to a range of fiber-based devices with outstanding performance in terms of output power, beam quality, overall efficiency, and flexibility with regard to operating wavelength and radiation format. This success in the high-power arena is largely due to the fiber’s geometry, which provides considerable resilience to the effects of heat generation in the core, and facilitates efficient conversion from relatively low-brightness diode pump radiation to high-brightness laser output. In this paper we review the current state of the art in terms of continuous-wave and pulsed performance of ytterbium-doped fiber lasers, the current fiber gain medium of choice, and by far the most developed in terms of high-power performance. We then review the current status and challenges of extending the technology to other rare-earth dopants and associated wavelengths of operation. Throughout we identify the key factors currently limiting fiber laser performance in different operating regimes—in particular thermal management, optical nonlinearity, and damage. Finally, we speculate as to the likely developments in pump laser technology, fiber design and fabrication, architectural approaches, and functionality that lie ahead in the coming decade and the implications they have on fiber laser performance and industrial/scientific adoption.

High power fiber lasers: current status and future perspectives [Invited]

An overview of analog microwave photonics will be presented. The performance requirements for externally-modulated analog microwave photonic links will be reviewed with specific emphasis placed on modulator efficiency, laser noise, detected photocurrent, and link linearity.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/6387506/6403300/06403360.pdf

Microwave photonics

Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers are modeled using the propagation and rate equations of a homogeneous two-level laser medium. Numerical methods are used to analyze the effects of optical modes and erbium confinement on amplifier performance, and to calculate both the gain and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectra. Fibers with confined erbium doping are completely characterized from easily measured parameters: the ratio of the linear ion density to fluorescence lifetime, and the absorption of gain spectra. Analytical techniques then allow accurate evaluation of gain, saturation, and noise in low-gain amplifiers (G >

Modeling erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

High gain amplification of up to 28 dB has been observed in a 3m-long erbium-doped fibre. The amplifier has a spectral bandwidth of greater than 300GHz in the region of 1.536µm and a measured sensitivity of -42dBm at a bit rate of 140 Mbit/s.

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Low-noise erbium-doped fibre amplifier operating at 1.54μm

We report the first operation of an Nd3+-doped monomode fibre laser oscillating in a single longitudinal mode. The laser incorporated an integral fibre grating used as a narrowband reflector. The lasing linewidth was measured as 1.3MHz FWHM at a wavelength of 1082nm.

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Single-longitudinal-mode operation of an Nd3+-doped fibre laser

Optical amplifiers are of interest as wideband in-line repeaters for telecommunications and as signal regenerators for a variety of sensor applications. Much current research has concentrated on semiconductor laser amplifiers which are difficult to splice to fiber systems. It is clear that an amplifier consisting of a special optical fiber which is compatible with telecommunication fiber would overcome this problem. This paper describes the first results of an optical fiber amplifier based on an Er3+-doped fiber which has a maximum gain at a wavelength of 1.536 µm. A single-pass gain of 26 dB and a maximum output of 13 dBm at 140 MHz has been demonstrated

High-gain rare-earth-doped fibre amplifier at 1.54µm

We report the first operation of an Er3+-doped single-mode fibre laser operating around 1.6μm pumped by a CW AIGaAs diode laser. An output power of 130μW was obtained with a lasing threshold of 3 mW.

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Diode-laser-pumped operation of an Er3+-doped single-mode fibre laser

We report the efficient operation an Nd3+-doped silica single-mode fibre laser pumped by a GaAlAs laser diode. A CW output power in excess of 1 mW at 1.088 µm has been obtained with a slope efficiency of 33%. Q-switched operation of this device is also reported.

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I.M. Jauncey

Papers

Low-noise erbium-doped fibre amplifier operating at 1.54μm

Single-longitudinal-mode operation of an Nd3+-doped fibre laser

High-gain rare-earth-doped fibre amplifier at 1.54µm

Diode-laser-pumped operation of an Er3+-doped single-mode fibre laser

Efficient diode-pumped CW and Q-switched single-mode fibre laser