Lighting up erbium with water: Observation of substantial crystalline matrix element enhancements

We have found substantial enhancements of the optical matrix elements of Er atoms when water molecules augment the symmetry-breaking electric fields in their crystalline environment. We measure enhancement factors of order 5 for the set of Er energy levels with wavelengths near 1550 nm. These transi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied physics 2001-09, Vol.90 (6), p.2678-2682
Main Authors: Thomas, G. A., Bubb, D. M., Koo, T.-Y., Werder, D. J., Cheong, S.-W., Federici, J. F.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We have found substantial enhancements of the optical matrix elements of Er atoms when water molecules augment the symmetry-breaking electric fields in their crystalline environment. We measure enhancement factors of order 5 for the set of Er energy levels with wavelengths near 1550 nm. These transitions are technologically important because they are used in optical amplifiers for communications.
ISSN:0021-8979
1089-7550
DOI:10.1063/1.1390311