Ultrabroadband infrared luminescence and optical amplification in bismuth-doped germanosilicate glass

This letter reports the ultrabroadband infrared luminescence from 1000- to 1700-nm wavelength range and demonstrate optical amplification at the second optical communication window in a novel bismuth-doped germanosilicate glass. The full-width at half-maximum of the luminescence is about 300 mn and the optical gain is larger than 1.37 within the wavelength region from 1272 to 1348 nm with pump power 0.97 W. This material could be useful to fabricate ultrabroadband optical fiber amplifiers.

Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters of Er3+ doped mixed alkali aluminophosphate glasses

Lithium sodium mixed alkali aluminophosphate glasses of the composition xNa(2)O-(15-x)Li2O-4B(2)O(3)-11Al(2)O(3)-5BaO-65P(2)O(5) (where x=0, 3.75, 7.5, 11.25 and 15 mol%) containing 0.5 mol% Er2O3 were prepared by melt quenching. The absorption spectra of Er3+ were studied from the experimental oscillator strengths and the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters were obtained. The variations of Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Omega(2), Omega(4) and Omega(6)), experimental oscillator strengths of certain excited states of Er3+ and hypersensitive band positions with different mixed alkali content have been discussed in detail. It was found that there were similar effects of mixed alkali on both Judd-Ofelt intensity parameter 02 and the experimental oscillator strength of the hypersensitive transition, I-4(15/2) -> H-2(11/2). No shifts in the peak wavelength of the studied transitions were found in different glasses. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of melting temperature on the broadband infrared luminescence of bi-doped and Bi/Dy co-doped chalcohalide glasses

Bismuth (Bi)-doped and Bi/Dy co-doped chalcohalide glasses are investigated as promising materials for amplifiers in optical communication. The samples synthesized at lower melting temperatures (MTs) are characterized by more intensified infrared emissions. With respect to the redox process of a liquid mixture at different MTs, we attribute an emission at 1230 nm to low-valent Bi ions. The lower MT favors the formation of LVB ions, i.e. Bi+ or Bi2+, while the higher MT promotes the production of higher-valent Bi ions Bi3+. An enhanced broadband infrared luminescence with the full-width at half-maximum over 200 nm is achieved from the present Bi/Dy co-doped chalcohalide glasses.

Spectroscopic properties and Judd-Ofelt theory analysis of Dy3+ doped oxyfluoride silicate glass

Dy3+ doped oxyfluoride silicate glass was prepared and its optical absorption, 1.3 mu m emission, and upconversion luminescence properties were studied. Furthermore, the Judd-Ofelt [Phys. Rev. 127, 750 (1962); J. Chem. Phys. 37, 511 (1962)] intensity parameters, oscillator strengths, spontaneous transition probability, fluorescence branching ratio and radiative lifetime were calculated by Judd-Ofelt theory, while stimulated emission cross section of H-6(9/2)+F-6(11/2)-> H-6(15/2) transition was calculated by McCumber theory [Phys. Rev. A. 134, 299 (1964)]. According to the obtained Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Omega(2)=2.69x10(-20) cm(2), Omega(4)=1.64x10(-20) cm(2), and Omega(6)=1.64x10(-20) cm(2), the radiative lifetime was calculated to be 810 mu s for 1.3 mu m emission, whose full width at half maximum and sigma(e) were 115 nm and 2.21x10(-20)cm(2), respectively. In addition, near infrared to visible upconversion luminescence was observed and evaluated. The results suggest that Dy3+ doped oxyfluoride silicate glass can be used as potential host material for developing broadband optical amplifiers and laser applications.

Broadband near-infrared emission from transparent Ni2+-doped silicate glass ceramics

Transparent Ni2+-doped MgO-Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 glass ceramics were prepared, and the optical properties of Ni2+-doped glass ceramics were investigated. Broadband emission centered at 1320 nm was observed by 980 nm excitation. The longer wavelength luminescence compared with Ni2+-doped Li2O-Ga2O3-SiO2 glass ceramics is ascribed to the low crystal field hold by Ni2+ in MgO-Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 glass ceramics. The change in optical signals at the telecommunication bands with or without 980 nm excitation was also measured when the seed beam passes through the bulk gain host.(C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Ultrabroad infrared luminescences from Bi-doped alkaline earth metal germanate glasses

We report on ultrabroad infrared (IR) luminescences covering the 1000-1700-nm wavelength region, from Bi-doped 75GeO(2) 20RO-5Al(2)O(3) 1B(2)O(3) (R = Sr, Ca, and Mg) glasses. The full width at half-maximum of the IR luminescences excited at 980 nm increases (315 -> 440 -> 510 nm) with the change of alkaline earth metal (Mg2+ -> Ca2+ -> Sr2+). The fluorescence lifetime of the glass samples is 1725, 157, and 264 mu s when R is Sr, Ca, and Mg, respectively. These materials may be promising candidates for broad-band fiber amplifiers and tunable laser resources.

Upconversion emissions in Yb3+-Tm3+-doped tellurite glasses excited at 976 nm

Intense Tm3+ blue upconversion emission has been observed in Tm3+-Yb3+ codoped oxyfluoride tellurite glass under excitation with a diode laser at 976 nm. Three emission bands centered at 475, 650 and 796 nm corresponding to the transitions (1)G(4) -> H-3(6), (1)G(4) -> H-3(4) and F-3(4) -> H-3(6), respectively, simultaneously occur. The dependence of upconversion intensities on Tm3+ ions concentration and excitation power are investigated. For fixed Yb2O3 concentrations of 5.0 mol%, the maximum upconversion intensity was obtained with Tm2O3 concentration of about 0.1 mol%. The blue upconversion luminescence lifetimes of the Tm3+ transitions (1)G(4) -> H-3(6) are measured. The results are evaluated by the possible upconversion mechanisms.

Spectroscopic properties of neodymium doped high silica glass and aluminum codoping effects on the enhancement of fluorescence emission

Nd3+ -codoped and Al3+-Nd3+-codoped high silica glasses have been prepared by sintering nanoporous glasses impregnated with Nd3+ stop and Al3+ ions. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Omega(2,4,6) of Nd3+-doped high silica glasses were obtained and used to analyze aluminum codoping effects. Fluorescence properties of Nd3+-doped high silica glasses strongly depend on the Al3+ concentration. While Nd3+ ion absorption and emission intensities of obviously increase when aluminum is added to Nd3+-doped high silica glasses, fluorescence lifetimes decrease and aluminum codoping has almost no influence on the radiative quantum efficiencies. This indicates that aluminum codoping is responsible for an anti-quenching effect through a local modification of rare-earth environments rather than through physical cluster dispersion.

Influences of radiation trapping on spectroscopic properties of Er3+-doped fluorophosphate glasses

Fluorophosphate glasses with different contents of ErF3 were prepared. Due to the radiation trapping of Er, concentration dependence of the fluorescence lifetime is subject to distortion, and the stimulated-emission cross section calculated by the Fuchtbauer-Ladenburg equation is underestimated. The influence of radiation trapping on the measured fluorescence lifetime and width are investigated quantitatively. By comparing the intensity ratio of the 1556-1532 nm peak in the fluorescence spectrum with that in the stimulated-emission cross-section spectrum obtained according to the McCumber theory, the distortion ratio of fluorescence spectrum due to radiation trapping is obtained. An empirical way to quantitatively evaluate the influences of radiation trapping on fluorescence lifetime and width is proposed. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Optical amplification near 1300 nm in bismuth-doped strontium germanate glass

We demonstrate the broadband optical amplification in bismuth-doped strontium germanate glass with 808 nm and 980 nm laser diodes (LDs) as excitation sources. The net optical gain has been obtained within the wavelength region of 1272 to 1348 nm with 808 nm laser diode under 0.97 W power. The maximum gain and gain coefficients are 1.23 and 1.03 cm(-1) at 1315 nm, respectively. The signal increment at 1300 nm is 2.8 times with 980 nm LD, under 3 W power. The differential thermal analysis measurement reveals the good thermal stability of the studied glass. This glass could be suggested as a promising gain medium for broadband optical amplifiers.

Broadband optical amplification near 1300 nm in bismuth-doped germanate glass

In this paper, we present the broadband optical amplification in bismuth-doped germanate glass, at the second telecommunication window when excited with 808 nm and 980 nm laser diodes, respectively. The amplification range is from 1272 nm to 1348 nm wavelength, which is within the O-band of silica fiber communication. This bismuth-doped glass can be used as ultra broadband amplification material for wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) at the second telecommunication window.

Transparent Ni2+-doped lithium-alumino-silicate glass-ceramics for broadband near-infrared light source

Broadband infrared luminescence centred at around 1300 nm with full-width at half maximum of about 342 nm was observed from transparent Ni2+-doped lithium-alumino-silicate glass-ceramics embedded with beta-eucryptite crystallines. The room temperature fluorescent lifetime was 98 mu s. The transparent glass-ceramics may have potential applications in a widely tunable laser and a super-broadband optical amplifier for optical communications.

Multicolor upconversion of Er3+/Tm3+/Yb3+ doped oxyfluoride glass ceramics

Er3+/Tm3+/Yb3+ tricloped oxyfluoride glass ceramics was synthesized in a general way. Under 980 nm LD pumping, intense red, green and blue upconversion was obtained. And with those primary colors, multicolor luminescence was observed in oxyfluoride glass ceramics with various dopant concentrations. The red and green upconversion is consistent with F-4(9/2) -> I-4(15/2) and H-2(11/2), S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition of Er3+ respectively. While the blue upconversion originates from (1)G(4) -> H-3(6) transition of Tm3+. This is similar to that in Er3+/Yb3+ and/or Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped glass ceramics. However the upconversion of Tm3+ is enhanced by the energy transfer between Er3+ and Tm3+. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

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.