Novel Tm3+-doped fluorotellurite glasses with enhanced quantum efficiency

In this paper, new highly Tm3+-doped tellurite glasses with host composition 75TeO2-xZnF2-yGeO2-12PbO-3Nb2O5 [x(5-15), y(0-5) mol%] are presented and compared to the Tm-doped tellurite glasses based on the traditional host composition: 75TeO2-20ZnO-5Na2O mol%. Enhanced quantum efficiency from 3F4 level was observed for the proposed glasses and thermal stability and viscosity values make them suitable for optical fiber drawing. Besides the host composition, substantial influence of Tm3+ concentration on luminescence and lifetime of excited 3F4 and 3H4 states were discussed.