New transparent Er3+-doped oxyfluoride tellurite glass ceramic with improved near infrared and up-conversion fluorescence properties

Transparent glass ceramics have been obtained by nucleation and growth of Y2Te6O15 or Er2Te5O13 cubic phase in a new Er3+-doped oxyfluoride tellurite glass. Effect of beat treatment on absorption spectra, luminescence and up-conversion properties in the oxyfluoride tellurite glass has been investigated. With heat treatment the ultraviolet absorption edge red shifted evidently for the oxyfluoride telluride glass. The near infrared emission that corresponds to Er3+:I-4(13/2)-> I-4(15/2) can be significantly enhanced after heat treatment. Under 980 nm LD pumping, red and green up-conversion intensity of Er3+ in the glass ceramic can be observed much stronger than that in the base glass. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bismuth-doped zinc aluminosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics with ultra-broadband infrared luminescence

Broadband infrared luminescence covering the optical telecommunication wavelength region of 0, E and S bands was observed from bismuth-doped zinc aluminosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics. The spectroscopic properties of the glasses and glass-ceramics depend on the thermal-treatment history. With the appearance of gahnite (ZnAl2O4) crystalline phase, the fluorescent peak moves to longer wavelength, but the fluorescent intensity decreases. The similar to 1300 nm fluorescence with a FWHM larger than 250 nm and a lifetime longer than 600 mu s possesses these optical materials with potential applications in laser devices and broadband amplifiers. The broad infrared luminescence from the bismuth-doped zinc aluminosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics might be from BiO or bismuth clusters rather than from Bi5+ and Bi3+. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stability against crystallization and spectroscopic properties of Tm3+ doped fluorophosphate glasses

Fluorophosphate glasses with various content of Al(PO3)(3) were prepared. With the increment of Al(PO3)(3) content, density decreases while refractive index increases, and transition temperature, crystallization peak temperature and melt temperature increase which were suggested by differential scanning calorimetry. These glasses exhibit the best stability against crystallization with 7-9 mol'Yo Al(PO3)(3) content. Normalized Raman spectra were used to analyze structure and phonon state. The increment of Al(PO3)(3) content does not affect phonon energy but results in the augment of phonon density. Absorption spectra were measured. H-3(6) -> F-3(4) transition exhibits absorption at L band of the third communication window. Compared with the energy of Tm3+ excited states in other glass system, F-3(4) energy of Tm3+ in these glasses is considerable higher and H-3(4) energy is considerable lower, and it can be predicted that emission band of H-3(4) -> F-3(4) transition is close to the amplified band of gain-shift Tm3+ doped fiber amplifier. Analyses of Judd-Ofelt theory suggest when Al(PO3)(3) content is no more than 7 mol%, Judd-Ofelt parameters Omega(t) and the lifetime of H-3(4) energy level of TM3+ vary little with the increment of Al(PO3)(3) content, and when Al(PO3)(3) content is more than 7 mol%, Omega(2) and Omega(6) increase and radiative lifetime of H-3(4) energy level of Tm3+ drops sharply with the increment of Al(PO3)(3) content. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrabroad infrared luminescence from Bi-doped aluminogermanate glasses

We report ultrabroad infrared luminescence from Bi-doped aluminogermanate glasses. The infrared luminescence almost covers the whole low loss wavelength region (1200-1650 nm) of silica glass fiber when excited by a diode laser at 980 nm. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the luminescence is 510 nm. The luminescence peak can be divided into three Gaussian peaks, and the fluorescence lifetime of the three emissions are 297 mu s, 470 mu s and 1725 mu s, respectively. These fluorescence properties indicate that the glasses are promising material for broadband optical amplifiers. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of bismuth oxide on the thermal stability and Judd-Ofelt parameters of Er 3(+)/Yb3(+) co-doped aluminophosphate glasses

The Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped glasses with compositions of xBi(2)O(3)-(65-x)P2O5-4Yb(2)O(3)-11Al(2)O(3)-5BaO-15Na(2)O (where x = 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mol%) were prepared using the normal melt quench technique. The optical absorption spectra of the glasses were recorded in the wavelength range 300-1700 nm. The effect of Bi2O3 content on the thermal stability and absorption spectra of glasses was investigated. In addition, the Judd-Ofelt parameters and oscillator strengths were calculated by employing Judd-Ofelt theory. It was observed that the positions of the fundamental absorption edge and cut-off wavelength shifted towards red as the content of Bi2O3 increased. However, there were no red shifts found both in the peak wavelength and in the center of mass wavelength of all absorption bands with Bi2O3 content increasing. The results of Judd-Ofelt theory analysis showed that Judd-Ofelt parameters Omega(t), (t = 2, 4, 6) changed sharply when Bi2O3 concentration exceeded 5 mol%. The variation trends of experimental oscillator strength were similar with those of Judd-Ofelt parameters as function of Bi2O3 concentrations. Moreover, differential scanning calorimetry experiments showed that the increases of Bi2O3 content weakened the network structure and then lowered the thermal stability of the glasses. The spontaneous emission probability A(rad), branching ratio beta and the radiative lifetime tau(rad) were also calculated and analyzed. The stimulated emission cross-section of Er3+ was calculated according to the McCumber theory. It was found that the stimulated emission cross-section of Er3+ was monotonically increases with Bi2O3 content increasing. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intense frequency upconversion fluorescence of Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped lithium-strontium-lead-bismuth glasses

Infrared-to-visible upconversion fluorescence of Er(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped lithium-strontium-lead-bismuth (LSPB) glasses for developing potential upconversion lasers has been studied under 975-nm excitation. Based on the results of energy transfer efficiency and upconversion spectra, the optimal Yb(3+)-Er(3+) concentration ratio is found to be 5:1. Intense green and red emissions centered at 525, 546, and 657 nm, corresponding to the transitions 2H_(11/2)-->4I_(15/2), 4S_(3/2)-->4I_(15/2), and 4F_(9/2)-->4I_(15/2), respectively, were observed. The quadratic dependence of the 525-, 546-, and 657-nm emissions on excitation power indicates that a two-photon absorption process occurs under 975-nm excitation. The high-populated 4I_(11/2) level is supposed to serve as the intermediate state responsible for the upconversion processes. The intense upconversion luminescence of Er(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped LSPB glasses may be a potentially useful material for developing upconversion optical devices.

Effect of OH- on upconversion luminescence of Er3(+)-doped oxyhalide tellurite glasses

The Raman spectra, infrared spectra and upconversion luminescence spectra were studied, and the effect mechanism of OH- groups on the upconversion luminescence of Er3+-doped oxyhalide tellurite glasses was analyzed. The results show that the phonon energy of lead chloride tellurite (PCT) glass was lower than that of lead fluoride tellurite (PFT) glass, but upconversion luminescence intensity of Er3+-doped PFT glass was higher than that of Er3+-doped PCT glass. The analysis considers that it was attributed mainly to the effect of OH- groups. The lower the absorption coefficient of the OH- groups, the higher the fluorescence lifetime of Er3+, and as a result the higher upconversion luminescence intensity of Er3+. In this work, the effect of OH groups on the upconversion luminescence of Er3+ was bigger than that of the phonon energy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Host dependent thermal stability and frequency upconversion of Er3+-doped heavy metal oxyfluoride germanate glasses

The upconversion properties of Er3+-doped heavy metal oxyfluoride germanate glasses under 975 nm excitation have been investigated. The intense green (551 and 529 nm) and relatively weak red (657 nm) emissions corresponding to the transitions S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2), H-2(11/2) -> I-4(15/2) and F-4(9/2) -> I-4(15/2), respectively, were simultaneously observed at room temperature. The content of PbF2 has an important influence on the upconversion luminescence emission. With increasing content of PbF2, the intensities of green (529 nm) and red (657 nm) emissions increase slightly, while the green emission (551 nm) increases markedly. These results suggest that PbF2 has an influence on the green (551 nm) emission more than on the green (529 nm) and red (657 nm) emissions.

Frequency up-conversion properties of Er3(+)-doped TeO2-ZnO-PbCl2 oxyhalide tellurite glasses

This paper reports on the successful preparation and a detailed study on the up-conversion properties of Er3+ -doped TeO2-ZnO-PbCl2 oxylialide tellurite glasses. Three intense emissions centered at around 527, 549 and 666 nm have been clearly observed under 977 nm excitation and the involved mechanisms have been explained. The green emissions centered at 527 and 549 nin are due to the H-2(11/2 ->) I-4(15/2) and S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) transitions, and the red up-conversion emission centered at 666 nm is associated with the F-4(9/2) -> I-4(15/2) transitions of Er3+ ions, respectively. The quadratic dependence of fluorescence on excitation laser power confirm that two-photons contribute to up-conversion of the green-red emissions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gain characteristics of Er3+-doped phosphate glass fibres

An erbium-doped phosphate glass fibre has been drawn by the rod-in-tube technique in our laboratory. The gain for the Er3+-doped phosphate glass fibre with different pump powers and with different input signal wavelengths is investigated. The 2.2-cm-long fibre, pumped by a single-mode 980-nm fibre-pigtailed laser diode, can provide a net gain per unit length greater than 1.8dB/cm. The pump threshold is about 50 mW at the wavelength of 1534 nm, and below 70 mW at 1550 nm. The gain linewidth of the Er3+-doped phosphate glass fibre is greater than 34 nm and can cover the C band in optical communication networks.

Spectroscopic and structural properties of YbF3-doped fluorophosphate glasses

Compositional influences on the spectroscopic properties of Yb3+ and the structural variations with the introduction of YbF3 were studied in fluorophosphate glasses. Emission cross-section (sigma(emi)) and gain coefficient (sigma(emi) x tau(f)) were calculated which exhibit maximum at RF2 = 33 mol%. YbF3 has an important effect on the glass forming ability of fluorophosphate glasses when RF2 is over 36 mol%. The study of Raman spectra showed big differences on the glass structure between non-Yb3+ and Yb3+ -doped glasses. The main building units in Yb3+-doped samples are metaphosphate groups, pyrophosphate groups (P-2(O,F)(7), PO3F), Al[F-6] +Al[O,F](6) and F3Al-O-AlF3 while those of the non-Yb3+-doped glasses are monophosphate group P(O,F)(4), little pyrophosphate group, Al[F-4] + Al[F-6] + Al[O,F](4) + Al[O,F](6) and F3Al-O-AlF3, which means Yb3+ ions contribute to a better glass polymerization and network uniformity. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficient frequency upconversion emission in Er3+-doped novel strontium lead bismuth glass

Er3+ -doped strontium lead bismuth glass for developing upconversion lasers has been fabricated and characterized. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Omega(1) (t = 2,4,6), calculated based on the experimental absorption spectrum and Judd-Ofelt theory, were found to be Omega(2) = 2.95 x 10(-20), Omega(4) = 0-91 X 10(-20), and Omega(6) = 0.36 x 10(-20) cm(2). Under 975 nm excitation, intense green and red emissions centered at 525, 546, and 657 nm, corresponding to the transitions H-2(11/2) --> I-4(15/2), S-4(3/2) I-4(15/2), and F-4(9/2) --> I-4(15/2) respectively were observed. The upconversion mechanisms are discussed based oil the energy matching and quadratic dependence on excitation power, and the dominant mechanisms are excited state absorption and energy transfer upconversion for the green and red emissions. The long-lived I-4(11/2) level is supposed to serve as the intermediate state responsible for the upconversion processes. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Broadband amplification and upconversion luminescence properties of Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped fluorophosphate glass

Broadband and upconversion properties were studied in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped fluorophosphate glasses. Large Omega(6) and S-ed/(S-ed + S-md) values and the flat gain profile over 1530-1585 nm indicate the good broadband properties of the glass system. And a premise of using Omega(6) as a parameter to estimate the broadband properties of the glasses is proposed for the first time to our knowledge. Results showed that fluorescence intensity, upconversion luminescence intensity, the intensity ratio of red/green light (656 nm/545 nm) are closely related to the Yb3+:Er3+ ratio and Er3+ concentration, and the corresponding calculated lifetime of F-4(9/2) and S-4(3/2) states for red and green upconversion samples proves this conclusion. The upconversion mechanism is also discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.