Abstract

Major experimental advances have recently been made in fluorescence (vibrational) cooling of solids and liquids.^1-3 Since the first observation of optical refrigeration (OR) in a solid (ytterbium- doped glass) in 1995 by Epstein, et al.,¹ antiStokes fluorescence cooling of solids has made large strides toward achieving laser induced solid-state cryocoolers.^4,5 There has been significant progress in anti-Stokes cooling of semiconductor materials although no net cooling has been yet observed due to radiation trapping.^6,7

© 2001 Optical Society of America