Optical properties of transparent Dy doped Ba2TiSi2O8 glass ceramic

The Ba₂TiSi₂O₈ is a well known piezoelectric, ferroelectric and non-linear crystal. Nanocrystals of Ba₂TiSi₂O₈ doped with 1.5 Dy³⁺ have been obtained by thermal treatment of a precursor glass and their optical properties have been studied. X-ray diffraction patterns and optical measurements have been carried out on the precursor glass and glass ceramic samples. The emission spectra corresponding to the Dy³⁺: ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2 (575 nm), ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_11/2 (670 nm) and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_9/2 (757 nm) transitions have been obtained under laser excitation at 473 nm. These measurements confirm the incorporation of the Dy³⁺ ions into the Ba₂TiSi₂O₈ nanocrystals which produces an enhancement of luminescence at 575 nm. At this wavelength has been demonstrated a maximum optical amplification around 1.9 cm⁻¹ (∼8.2 dB/cm).