Visible and near infrared luminescence properties of Er3+-doped LBTAF glasses for optical amplifiers

Trivalent erbium doped lead borate titanate aluminum fluoride (LBTAFEr) glasses of molar composition (50-x)PbO·30H3BO3·10TiO2·10AlF3·xEr2O3 were prepared and characterized applying the Judd–Ofelt theory. The visible and near infrared luminescence spectra obtained by exciting the samples at 486 nm (xenon source) and 514.5 nm (Ar+ laser) radiations exhibit (2H11/2, 4S3/2) → 4I15/2 (547 nm) and 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 (1.53 μm) transitions, respectively. Thermalization of the two emitting 2H11/2 and 4S3/2 states is taken into account in calculating the significant radiative properties. The intensity parameters are used to calculate the transition probabilities, luminescence branching ratios, radiative decay times and emission cross-sections for the observed emission bands. The McCumber theory has been applied to evaluate the emission cross-section using the absorption cross-section of the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition of Er3+ ion. The decay profiles of the (2H11/2, 4S3/2) emission state were recorded and analyzed.

Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (96 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► The large value of Ω2 indicates the higher degree of covalence of Er3+ and O2− ions.
► No luminescence quenching is observed in the visible region in LBTAFEr glasses.
► Beyond 1 mol%, a luminescence quenching is observed in the near infrared region.
► Quantum efficiency of the (2H11/2, 4S3/2) state of Er3+-doped LBTAF glass is 76.47%.
► The LBTAFEr10 glass is a suitable material for visible and near infrared amplifiers..