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Published on: July 12, 2017
Nonlinear electronic line shape determination in Yb3+-doped phosphate glass
D N Messias1, T Catunda, J D Myers
1Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. dnmessias@infis.ufu.br
Optics Letters
|February 20, 2007
Summary
Nonlinear refraction spectroscopy reveals asymmetric spectral shapes in Yb3+-doped phosphate glass. The population lens effect, driven by nonlinear refractive index (n2), significantly outweighs the thermal lens effect due to Ytterbium
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Spectroscopy
- Photonics
Background:
- Ytterbium (Yb3+)-doped glasses are crucial for laser applications.
- Understanding nonlinear optical properties is essential for device performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the line shape of the real (n2") and imaginary (n2") parts of the nonlinear refractive index in Yb3+-doped phosphate glass.
- To investigate population dynamics and pump saturation intensity.
- To compare thermal and population lens effects.
Main Methods:
- Nonlinear refraction spectroscopy was employed.
- Measurements were conducted in the transient regime.
- Spectra of n2 and n2" were analyzed.
Main Results:
- An asymmetric feature was observed in the n2" spectrum, attributed to resonant and nonresonant contributions.
- The nonresonant term is linked to the polarizability difference (Δα) between electronic states.
- The population lens effect was found to be approximately 20 times larger than the thermal lens effect.
Conclusions:
- The study elucidates the complex nonlinear optical response of Yb3+-doped phosphate glass.
- Population dynamics play a dominant role in the refractive index changes.
- Nonlinear refraction spectroscopy is a valuable tool for characterizing laser gain media.
