As?S?:Er³? : spectroscopy and spectral hole burning

by (Richard Eric), 1975- Brown

Using spectral holes in Er doped Y2SiO2, stabilization of a semiconductor laser to 500 Hz at 1536 nm (i.e. 1 part in 2 ? 1014) has been recently achieved. However, the stabilization could be maintained only for a period of 2 ms, since the spectral holes utilized for stabilization were non-persistent. Gated hole burning could provide persistent holes and long-term stabilization, but due to the large bandgap of the single crystalline host materials used in the experiments, this type of spectral hole burning could not be realized. Reported here are studies of Er3+ doped As2S3, a chalcogenide glass with a bandgap of about 2 eV, to explore the potential of this material as a persistent hole burning medium for the stabilization of NIR lasers. Samples were prepared by stirring molten As2S3 doped with Er2S3 powder for 8 hours in a sealed quartz tube. Subsequent quenching of the melt produced the bulk glass. The optical properties the As2S3:Er3+ samples were analyzed using emission and absorption spectroscopy. Index words: Spectroscopy, Hole Burning, Glass, Chalcogenide As2S3:Er3+: Spectroscopy and Spectral Hole Burning by Richard E. Brown B.S., Georgia State University, 1999 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Athens, Georgia 2002 c? 2002 Richard E. Brown All Rights Reserved As2S3:Er3+: Spectroscopy and Spectral Hole Burning by Richard E. Brown Approved: Major Professor: Uwe Happek Committee: W. Gary Love William Dennis Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2002