Cooperative downconversion in Yb3+-RE3+ (RE = Tm or Pr) codoped lanthanum borogermanate glasses

We report on cooperative downconversion in Yb3+-RE3+ (RE = Tm or Pr) codoped lanthanum borogermanate glasses (LBG), which are capable of splitting a visible photon absorbed by Tm3+ or Pr3+ ions into two near-infrared photons. The results indicate that Pr3+-Yb3+ is a more efficient ion couple than Tm3+-Yb3+ in terms of cooperative downconversion. We have obtained a highest quantum yield of 165% and 138% for Pr3+-Yb3+ and Tm3+-Yb3+ codoped LBG glasses under 468 nm excitation, respectively. However, ultraviolet light excitation to the charge transfer band of Yb3+ does not result in quantum splitting as rapid relaxation from the charge transfer band to 4f(13) levels of Yb3+ dominates. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America