PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Microfluorescence analysis of nanostructuring inhomogeneity in optical fibers with embedded gallium oxide nanocrystals

Microscopy and Microanalysis, ISSN: 1431-9276, Vol: 18, Issue: 2, Page: 259-265
2012
  • 12
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 8
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    12
    • Citation Indexes
      12
  • Captures
    8

Article Description

Abstract A spectroscopic protocol is proposed to implement confocal microfluorescence imaging to the analysis of microinhomogeneity in the nanocrystallization of the core of fibers belonging to a new kind of broadband fiber amplifier based on glass with embedded nanocrystals. Nanocrystallization, crucial for achieving an adequate light emission efficiency of transition metal ions in these materials, has to be as homogeneous as possible in the fiber to assure optical amplification. This requirement calls for a sensitive method for monitoring nanostructuring in oxide glasses. Here we show that mapping microfluorescence excited at 633 nm by a He-Ne laser may give a useful tool in this regard, thanks to quasi-resonant excitation of coordination defects typical of germanosilicate materials, such as nonbridging oxygens and charged Ge-O-Ge sites, whose fluorescence are shown to undergo spectral modifications when nanocrystals form into the glass. The method has been positively checked on prototypes of optical fibers-preventively characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy-fabricated from preforms of Ni-doped Li O-Na O-Sb O -Ga O -GeO -SiO glass in silica cladding and subjected to heat treatment to activate gallium oxide nanocrystal growth. The method indeed enables not only the mapping of the crystallization degree but also the identification of drawing-induced defects in the fiber cladding. © 2012 Microscopy Society of America.

Bibliographic Details

Mashinsky, Valery M; Karatun, Nikita M; Bogatyrev, Vladimir A; Sigaev, Vladimir N; Golubev, Nikita V; Ignat'eva, Elena S; Lorenzi, Roberto; Mozzati, Maria Cristina; Paleari, Alberto; Dianov, Evgeny M

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Physics and Astronomy

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know