Open AccessTime resolved confocal luminescence investigations on Reverse Proton Exchange Nd:LiNbO_3 channel waveguides
Author(s) -
Emma Martín Rodríguez,
Daniel Jaque,
Eugenio Cantelar,
F. Cussó,
G. Lifante,
Alessandro Busacca,
Alfonso Cino,
Stefano Riva Sanseverino
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.008805
Subject(s) - fluorescence , materials science , luminescence , ion , proton , quenching (fluorescence) , optics , laser induced fluorescence , confocal , analytical chemistry (journal) , molecular physics , chemistry , optoelectronics , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography , quantum mechanics
In this work we report on the time and spatial resolved fluorescence of Neodymium ions in LiNbO(3) channel waveguides fabricated by Reverse Proton Exchange. The analysis of the fluorescence decay curves obtained with a sub-micrometric resolution has evidenced the presence of a relevant fluorescence quenching inside the channel waveguide. From the comparison between diffusion simulations and the spatial dependence of the (4)F(3/2) fluorescence decay rate we have concluded that the observed fluorescence quenching can be unequivocally related to the presence of H+ ions in the LiNbO(3) lattice. Nevertheless, it turns out that Reverse Proton Exchange guarantees a fluorescence quenching level significantly lower than in similar configurations based on Proton Exchange waveguides. This fluorescence quenching has been found to be accompanied by a relevant red-shift of the (4)F(3/2)?(4)I(9/2) fluorescence band.