Before the 1960s, all anti-Stokes emissions, which were known to exist, involved emission energies in excess of excitation energies by only a few kT. They were linked to thermal population of energy states above excitation states by such an energy amount. It was the well-known case of anti-Stokes emission for the so-called thermal bands or in the Raman effect for the well-known anti-Stokes sidebands. Thermoluminescence, where traps are emptied by excitation energies of the order of kT, also constituted a field of anti-Stokes emission of its own. Superexcitation, i.e., raising an already excited electron to an even higher level by excited-state absorption (ESA), was also known but with very weak emissions. These types of well-known anti-Stokes processes have been reviewed in classical textbooks on luminescence.1 All fluorescence light emitters usually follow the well-known principle of the Stokes law which simply states that excitation photons are at a higher energy than emitted ones or, in other words, that output photon energy is weaker than input photon energy. This, in a sense, is an indirect statement that efficiency cannot be larger than 1. This principle is

Upconversion and Anti-Stokes Processes with f and d Ions in Solids

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

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.

/pdf/low-noise-erbium-doped-fibre-amplifier-operating-at-1-54mm-2o3df96gzj.pdf

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

We report the first CW operation of a neodymium-doped silica single-mode fibre laser pumped by a GaAIAs laser diode. A laser threshold of less than 1 mW has been obtained.

/pdf/neodymium-doped-silica-single-mode-fibre-lasers-2jifjjxz18.pdf

Neodymium-doped silica single-mode fibre lasers

A new single-mode fibre laser source is described. The laser is tunable over 25 nm in the wavelength region of 1.55 μm and produces in excess of 2 W peak power in a Q-switched mode.

/pdf/low-threshold-tunable-cw-and-q-switched-fibre-laser-oi5sjhjwsg.pdf

Low-threshold tunable CW and Q-switched fibre laser operating at 1.55 μm

Low-loss fibers containing rare-earths have been produced with high absorption levels in the visible and near infrared regions. Although containing relatively large quantities of rare-earth impurity dopants, the fibers possess low-loss windows where the attenuation is similar to that observed in undoped fibers. This attribute makes the fibers attractive for use in long distributed sensors, as well as low-threshold fiber lasers. Fiber characteristics relevant to these two applications are uniformity of dopant incorporation, absorption and fluorescence spectra, and fluorescence lifetime. These measurements are presented, together with their respective temperature dependences. The fiber fabrication method is described and results given for Nd3+-, Er3+-, and Tb3+-doped fibers.

/pdf/fabrication-and-characterization-of-low-loss-optical-fibers-3z7tgp8q7b.pdf

Fabrication and characterization of low-loss optical fibers containing rare-earth ions

Tunable laser action has been obtained in Nd3+- and Er3+-doped single-mode fiber lasers. In the case of the Nd3+-doped fiber, an extensive tuning range of 80 nm has been achieved. Tunable CW lasing also has been observed for the first time in an Er3+-doped fiber laser, which has an overall tuning range of 25 nm in the region of \lambda = 1.54 /mu m.

/pdf/tunable-single-mode-fiber-lasers-4d9egqbgot.pdf

R.J. Mears

Papers

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

Neodymium-doped silica single-mode fibre lasers

Low-threshold tunable CW and Q-switched fibre laser operating at 1.55 μm

Fabrication and characterization of low-loss optical fibers containing rare-earth ions

Tunable single-mode fiber lasers