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In this contribution, we analyze the effect of several preparation methods of Yb3+ doped alumino silicate glasses on their quantum efficiency by using photo-acoustic measurements in comparison to standard measurement methods including the determination via the fluorescence lifetime and an integrating sphere setup. The preparation methods focused on decreasing the OH concentration by means of fluorine-substitution and/or applying dry melting atmospheres, which led to an increase in the measured fluorescence lifetime. However, it was found that the influence of these methods on radiative properties such as the measured fluorescence lifetime alone does not per se give exact information about the actual quantum efficiency of the sample. The determination of the quantum efficiency by means of fluorescence lifetime shows inaccuracies when refractive index changing elements such as fluorine are incorporated into the glass. Since fluorine not only eliminates OH from the glass but also increases the "intrinsic" radiative fluorescence lifetime, which is needed to calculate the quantum efficiency, it is difficult to separate lifetime quenching from purely radiative effects. The approach used in this contribution offers a possibility to disentangle radiative from non-radiative properties which is not possible by using fluorescence lifetime measurements alone and allows an accurate determination of the quantum efficiency of a given sample. The comparative determination by an integrating sphere setup leads to the well-known problem of reabsorption which embodies itself in the measurement of too low quantum efficiencies, especially for samples with small quantum efficiencies

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The present study reports on a new photoacoustic (PA) measurement method that is suitable for the investigation of light induced absorption effects including e.g. excited state absorption. Contrary to the modulation of the radiation intensity used in conventional PA-methods, the key principle of this novel setup is based on the modulation of the induced absorption coefficient by light. For this purpose, a pump-probe setup with a pulsed pump laser beam and a continuous probe laser beam is utilized. In this regime, the potential influence of heat on the PA-signal is much smaller when compared to arrangements with pulsed probe beam and continuous pump beam. Beyond that, the negative effect of thermal lenses can be neglected. Thus, the measurement technique is well-suited for materials exhibiting a strong absorption at the pump wavelength. The quantitative analysis of the induced absorption coefficient was achieved by the calibration of the additional PA-signal caused by the continuous probe laser to the PA-signal resulting from the pulsed pump laser using thallium bromoiodide (KRS-5) as sample material.

We present a unique dual laser beam processing approach based on excited state absorption by structuring 200 nm thin zinc oxide films sputtered on fused silica substrates. The combination of two pulsed nanosecond-laser beams with different photon energies—one below and one above the zinc oxide band gap energy—allows for a precise, efficient, and homogeneous ablation of the films without substrate damage. Based on structuring experiments in dependence on laser wavelength, pulse fluence, and pulse delay of both laser beams, a detailed concept of energy transfer and excitation processes during irradiation was developed. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the thermal and electronic processes during ablation. To quantify the efficiency improvements of the dual-beam process compared to single-beam ablation, a simple efficiency model was developed.

Photoluminescent nanoparticles (NPs) are of specific interest for biomedical applications, bioimaging, and cell tracking. Here, we report on the synthesis of europium(III)‐doped MgAl2O4 spinel NPs by the CO2 laser co‐vaporization of a homogeneous raw powder mixture consisting of micrometer‐sized MgAl2O4 and Eu2O3 (2 and 4 mol%, respectively). The resulting NPs are spherically shaped, show a narrow size distribution (mean diameter: ~30 nm), and are well dispersed. The as‐prepared NPs are highly crystalline and consist of MgAl2O4 with small amounts of the secondary phases MgO (~10 mass%) and Eu2O3 (<0.5 mass%). The photoluminescence spectra of the doped spinel nanopowders show an intense red emission (λem = 615 nm) resulting from the 5D0→7F2 transition with a maximum intensity at an excitation wavelength of 470 nm.

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