Spectroscopic Properties of Nd^3＋ -Doped High Silica Glass Prepared by Sintering Porous Glass

A new kind of Nd^3＋-doped high silica glass （SiO2 〉 96% （mass fraction）） was obtained by sintering porous glass impregnated with Nd^3 ＋ ions. The absorption and luminescence properties of high silica glass doped with different Nd^3 ＋ concentrations were studied. The intensity parameters Ωt （t = 2, 4, 6）, spontaneous emission probability, fluorescence lifetime, radiative quantum efficiency, fluorescence branching ratio, and stimulated emission cross section were calculated using the Judd-Ofelt theory. The optimal Nd^3＋ concentration in high silica glass was 0.27% （mole fraction） because of its high quantum efficiency and emission intensity. By comparing the spectroscopic parameters with other Nd^3 ＋- doped oxide glasses and commercial silicate glasses, the Nd^3 ＋ -doped high silica glasses are likely to be a promising material used for high power and high repetition rate lasers.     

Preparation and Optical Properties of Er^3＋-Doped Gadolinium Borosilicate Glasses

Er3 -doped Gd2 O3 -SiO2 -B2 O3 -Na2O glasses were prepared, and formation range of glass of Gd2 O3 -SiO2 -B2O3 system was experimentally obtained. It is found that the glass phase can be formed only when the content of SiO2 is 0～50%(molar fraction), Gd2O3 is 0～30%(molar fraction) and B2 O3 is above 20%(molar fraction) in this glass system. The glass can also be obtained but becomes translucent at the contents of 60%(molar fraction) SiO2 and 30% Gd2O3 , or at the contents of 60%(molar fraction) SiO2 and 30%(molar fraction) B2O3. There is no glass phase formed in other glass components. Glass forming ability for Gd2O3 content of 10%, was characterized by the value of β, the parameter of crystallization tendency, which is 0.32～1.76, obtained from the differential thermal analysis. The absorption and emission cross section, the J-O parameters Ωt(2,4,6) and radiative transition probabilities were calculated by using the theory of McCumber and Judd-Ofelt. The emission properties at 1.5 μm of the samples are discussed with the product of full width at half maximum and stimulated emission cross section. It can be seen that the value of the FWHM×σepeak product in the prepared glass is more than those of germanate, silicate and phosphate glasses. Furthermore, the maximum value of the product among these glasses reported in this work is close to that of oxyfluoride silicate glass. Therefore, the Er3 -doped gadolinium borosilicate glass in this paper is a candidate for broadband erbium doped fiber amplifiers.     

Broadband 1.53 μm emission in Er~(3 )-doped Ga-Bi-Pb-Ge heavy metal oxide glasses

We investigated the thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of the 1.53 μm emission from 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3 ions in Er3 /Yb3 -codoped Ga-Bi-Pb-Ge heavy metal oxide glass for use in broadband fiber amplifiers. It was noted that the addition of GeO2 ef-fectively enhanced the thermal stability of the heavy metal oxide glass studied. The emission peak located at approximately 1530 nm with a full width at half-maximum of approximately 58 nm. The measured lifetime and the calculated emission cross-section of this transition were ～3.2 ms and ～10.3×10–21 cm2, respectively. As a result, Ga-Bi-Pb-Ge heavy metal oxide glasses were assumed to be potential host material for the 1.53 μm broadband optical fiber amplifiers.     

Optical Spectroscopy of Er^3＋ and Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ Co-doped Bi2O3-GeO2-B2O3-ZnO Glasses

The （60 - x）Bi2O3 - xGeO2-30B2O3-10ZnO （x = 5, 10, 20, 30 molar percent） glasses doped with Er^3＋ and Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ were fabricated using the melting method. The thermal stability of the glasses was studied with their DTA curves. The results show that the difference between the glass transition temperature and the crystallization onset temperature increases with the increase of GeO2 content, indicating that the thermal stability of the glass has become better. The absorption spectra were recorded and the stimulated emission cross sections were calculated using the McCumber theory. The Ω2, O4, and Ω6 parameters,the transition probability, the radiative lifetime, and the fluorescence branch ratio of Er^3＋ for optical transition were calculated from their absorption spectra in terms of reduced matrix U^（t）（λ = 2, 4, 6） character for optical transitions. The infrared emission of Er^3＋ was measured upon excitation with 970 nm light and the full width at half-maximum （FWHM） was estimated from the emission spectra. The pumping efficiency and the intensity of the emission at the 1.54 μm band of Er^3＋ were enhanced considerably by co-doping Yb^3＋ .     

Spectroscopic Properties of Er^3＋-Doped TeO2-WO3-ZnO-ZnF2 Glasses

The Er^3 -doped TeO2-WO3-ZnO-ZnF2(TWZOF) glasses were prepared. The absorption spectra, 1.5μm emission spectra and fluorescence lifetimes of Er^3 , excited at 970nm, were measured. The J-O parameters Ωt(t=2, 4, 6), absorption and emission cross-sections were calculated. The dependence of the 1.5μm emission intensity, fluorescence lifetime and bandwidth of the Er^3 emission upon the contents of ZnF2 in glass were investigated. In TWZOF glass, Er^3 ions had a broad emission profile around 1.5μm with the maximum FWHM of 83nm. With the increasing of the content of ZnF2, the emission intensity at peak wavelength and the fluorescence lifetime of Er^3 at 1.5μm increase.     

Gain properties of germanate glasses singly doped with Tm^3＋ and Ho^3＋ ions

Two kinds of germanate glasses singly doped with the ion concentration of 2.0mol.%Tm3+ and 2.0mol.%Ho3+, respectively, were prepared. According to McCumber theory, the absorption and stimulated emission cross-sections corresponding to the 3H6←→3F4 transitions of Tm3+ (at 1.8 μm) and the 5I8←→5I7 transitions of Ho3+ (at 2.0 μm) were obtained, and respective gain cross-section spectra were also computed as a function of population inversion according to absorption and emission cross-sections and the ion concentrations. For Tm3+-doped germanate glasses, the maximum of the absorption, emission, and gain cross-sections reached a value higher than those reported for fluorozirconate, fluoride, and oxyfluoride glasses. For Ho3+-doped germanate glasses, the maximum of absorption, emission, and gain cross-sections reached a value higher than that reported for fluorozircoaluminate glasses. Hence, these Tm3+-doped and Ho3+-doped germanate glasses exhibited an advantage for application in mid-infrared lasers at about 1.8 and 2.0 μm wavelength.     

Relaxation dynamics of excited states of Tm3+ ions in TeO2-ZnO-Na2O-Y2O3 glasses

Tellurite glasses with the composition of xTm_2O_3-(6-x)Y_2O_3-3Na_2O-25ZnO-66TeO_2(where 0≤x≤6)were obtained by the melt-quenching technique.Absorption(300 K),excitation(300 K) and fluorescence spectra(300 K) as well as fluorescence decay curves of Tm~(3+)-doped title glasses are presented and discussed in details.The Judd-Ofelt analysis based on the room temperature absorption spectrum was applied for determination of fundamental fluorescence properties such as radiative transition probabilities(A_T),branching ratios(β_R),radiative lifetimes(τ_R) of the emitting levels of the Tm~(3+) ion and stimulated emission cross-sections(σ_(em)).Fluorescence spectra were recorded and analysed in the visible and near-infrared spectral range.The emission and effective cross-section were calculated for the ~3F_4→~3H_6 transition,showing that the investigated glasses are promising laser host materials,operating at 1.8 μm.The observed concentration quenching and non-exponential decay curves from the ~1 G_4 and ~3H_4 states indicate nonradiative energy transfer between Tm~(3+) ions.The analysis of non-exponential fluorescence decay curves from the ~1 G_4 and ~3H_4 levels was carried out in framework of the InokutiHirayama and Yokota-Tanimoto models and energy transfer microparameters were determined.The self-quenching model was proposed for describing relaxation of the first excited state of the Tm~(3+) ion.     

Influence of B2O3 on Spectroscopic Properties of Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ Co-Doped Tungsten-Tellurite Glasses

A series of novel Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ co-doped （85- x ） TeO2-15WO3-xB2O3 （TWB;x=2%,5%,8%（mole fraction） ） glasses were prepared. Influence of B203 on the spectroscopic properties of Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ co-doped tungsten-tellurite glasses were investigated. It is found that the intensity of 1.5μm fluorescence, lifetime of the ^4I13/2 level and upconversion fluorescence all decrease with the increase of B2O3 content. The product of full width at half maximum （FWHM） and stimulated emission cross-section （σe^peak） of Er^3＋ ：^4I13/2→^4I15/2 transition has an optimum when B203 is 5% （mole fraction）. The emission spectra of Er^3＋ ： ^4I13/2→^4I15/2 transition was analyzed using peak-fit routine, and an equivalent four-level system was proposed to estimate the stark splitting for the 411512 and ^4I13/2 levels of Er^3＋ ions in TWB glasses at room temperature.     

2 μm mid-infrared optical spectra of Tm3+-doped germanium gallate glasses

Glasses with the composition of 65GeO212Ga2O3-10BaO-8Li2O-5La2O3(molar ratio) doped with 1.526 wt.%, 3.006 wt.%, 5.836 wt.%, 11.028 wt.%, and 15.678 wt.% Tm2O3, respectively, were fabricated by conventional melting method. According to the absorption spectra and the Judd-Ofelt theory, the J-O strength parameters (Ω2,Ω4, Ω6) were calculated, with which the radiative transition probabilities,branching ratios and radiative lifetimes were obtained. The infrared emission spectra (with 808 nm LD excitation) at～1.47 and～1.8 μm of various concentrations of Tm3+-doped glasses were studied. The emission intensity at～1.8 μm reached to the maximum when the Tm2O3-doping concentration was near to be～3.006 wt.% (1.0 mol.%), and then decreased as doping concentration increased further. The mechanism of the fluorescence intensity change was explained with the cross-relaxation effect and the concentration quenching effect of Tm3+. Meanwhile, according to McCumber theory, the absorption and emission cross-sections corresponding to the 3F4→3H6 transitions of Tm3+ at 1.8 μm was obtained. For Tm3+-doped germanate glasses, the maximum emission cross-section reached a value higher than that re-ported for fluorozircoaluminate glasses. It is expected to be a favorable candidate host for～2.0 μm mid-inflated laser because the glass shows favorable optical spectra.     

Investigation on 1.07 μm laser emission in Nd~（3＋）-doped sodium fluoroborate glasses

Spectroscopic and fluorescence properties of Nd 3+ ions in sodium fluoroborate(SFB) glasses were prepared and characterized through optical absorption,emission and decay measurements.The energy level analysis was carried out using free-ion Hamiltonian model.Experimental oscillator strengths were determined by measuring the area encompassed by the absorption peaks recorded for 1.0 mol.% Nd 3+-doped glasses.The Judd-Ofelt parameters(2,4,6) were used to evaluate the laser characteristic parameters such as radiative transition probability(A R),radiative decay time(τ R),fluorescence branching ratio(β R) and stimulated emission cross-section(σ e) for the 4 F 3/2 metastable state.The fluorescence spectra for different concentrations of Nd 3+ ions were recorded by exciting the samples at 514.5 nm Ar + ion laser.     

Broadband 1.53 μm emission in Er3+-doped Ga-Bi-Pb-Ge heavy metal oxide glasses

We investigated the thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of the 1.53 μm emission from 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3+ ions in Er3+/Yb3+-codoped Ga-Bi-Pb-Ge heavy metal oxide glass for use in broadband fiber amplifiers. It was noted that the addition of GeO2 ef-fectively enhanced the thermal stability of the heavy metal oxide glass studied. The emission peak located at approximately 1530 nm with a full width at half-maximum of approximately 58 nm. The measured lifetime and the calculated emission cross-section of this transition were ～3.2 ms and-10.3×10-21 cm2, respectively. As a result, Ga-Bi-Pb-Ge heavy metal oxide glasses were assumed to be potential host material for the 1.53 μm broadband optical fiber amplifiers.     

Spectroscopic investigations on Er3+/Yb3+-doped oxyfluoride glass ceramics containing YOF nanocrystals

Spectroscopic properties of Er3+/Yb3+-doped transparent oxyfluoride borosilicate glass ceramics containing YOF nanocrystals were systematically investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of YOF nanocrystals in the glassy matrix. Based on the Judd-Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters Ωi (i=2, 4, 6), spontaneous emission probability, radiative lifetime, radiative quantum efficiency and the effective emission bandwidth were investigated. The upconversion luminescence intensity of Er3+ ions in the glass ceramics increased significantly with the increasing crystallization temperature. The transition mechanisms of the green and red upconversion luminescence were ascribed to a two-photon process, and the blue upconversion luminescence was a three-photon absorption process.     

Up-Conversion Emission of Er3+ Ions in Yb3+ Sensitized Oxide Crystals

Most of the up-conversion lasers operated at room temperature are realized with heavy metal fluorides, In this paper the Judd-Ofelt parameters Ωλ ( λ = 2,4,6 ) were calculated for Er3+ ions in Yb3 + sensitized LiNbO3 and YVO4 crystals at room temperature, together with the radiative transition probabilities, non-radiative transition probabilities and resonant transition probabilities of Er3+ ions. Taking into account the energy transfer from Yb3 + to Er3 +, the rate equations are given for Er3 + ions. We obtained from a solution of the rate equations that Yb3 + sensitized YVO4 crystal is more efficient than Yb3 + sensitized LiNbO3 crystal in the up-conversion of 550 nm of Er3+ emission, which is consistent with our observation.     

Effect of alkali metal oxides R2O （R=Na, K） on 1.53 μm luminescence of Er3＋-doped Ga2O3-GeO2 glasses for optical amplification

This paper reported the thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of Ga2O3-GeO2-Na2O-K2O (GGNK) glasses doped with Er3+. The GGNK glasses were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (D...