| Abstract: | A series of highly Er3 /Yb3 co-doped fluoroaluminate glasses were investigated in order to develop a microchip laser at 1.54 μm under 980 nm excitation. Measurements of absorption, emission and up-conversion spectra were performed to examine the effect of concentration quenching on spectroscopic properties. In the glasses with Er3 concentrations below 10% (mol fraction), concentration quenching is low and the Er3 /Yb3 co-doped fluoroaluminate glasses gave stronger fluorescence of 1.54 μm from the 4I13/2→ 4I15/2 transition than those of Er3 singly-doped glasses. In the glass with Er3 concentrations above 10%, concentration quenching of 1.54 μm obviously occurs more than that of the Er3 singly-doped samples because of the back energy-transfer from Er3 to Yb3 . To obtain the highest emission efficiency at 1.54 μm, the optimum in mol fraction when the Er3 concentration is less than 10%. |
