Laser diode action in the blue-green has been observed from (Zn,Cd)Se quantum wells within ZnSe/Zn(S,Se) p-n heterojunctions up to 250 K. Operation is reported for two different configurations for which the GaAs substrate serves either as the n- or p-type injecting contact. In pulsed operation, output powers exceeding 0.6 W have been measured in devices prepared on both n-type and p-type GaAs epitaxial buffer layers and substrates.

We describe the preparation of monodisperse, lanthanide-doped hexagonal-phase NaYF4 upconverting luminescent nanoparticles for protein conjugation. Their core was coated with a silica shell which then was modified with a poly(ethylene glycol) spacer and N-hydroxysuccinimide ester groups. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and dynamic light scattering. The N-hydroxysuccinimide ester functionalization renders them highly reactive towards amine nucleophiles (e.g., proteins). We show that such particles can be conjugated to proteins. The protein-reactive UCLNPs and their conjugates to streptavidin and bovine serum albumin display multicolor emissions upon 980-nm continuous wave laser excitation. Surface plasmon resonance studies were carried out to prove bioconjugation and to compare the affinity of the particles for proteins immobilized on a thin gold film.

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We report laser-induced cooling with thulium-doped BaY2F8 single crystals grown using the Czochralski technique. The spectroscopic characterization of the crystals has been used to evaluate the laser cooling performance of the samples. Cooling by 3 degrees below ambient temperature is obtained in a single-pass geometry with 4.4 Watts of pump laser power at lambda = 1855 nm.

We present a non-contact optical technique for the measurement of laser-induced temperature changes in solids. Two-band differential luminescence thermometry (TBDLT) achieves a sensitivity of ϳ7 mK and enables a precise measurement of the net quantum efficiency of optical refrigerator materials. The TBDLT detects internal temperature changes by decoupling surface and bulk heating effects via time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. Several Yb 3+-doped fluorozirconate (ZrF 4-BaF 2-LaF 3-AlF 3-NaF-InF 3 , ZBLANI) glasses fabricated from precursors of varying purity and by different processes are analyzed in detail. A net quantum efficiency of ͑97.39± 0.01͒% at 238 K (at a pump wavelength of 1020.5 nm) is found for a ZBLANI:1% Yb 3+ lasercooling sample produced from metal fluoride precursors that were purified by chelate-assisted solvent extraction and dried in hydrofluoric gas. In comparison, a ZBLANI:1% Yb 3+ sample produced from commercialgrade metal fluoride precursors showed pronounced laser-induced heating that is indicative of a substantially higher impurity concentration. The TBDLT enables rapid and sensitive benchmarking of laser-cooling materials and provides critical feedback to the development and optimization of high-performance optical cryocooler materials.