Broadband near-IR emission and temperature dependence in Er/Tm co-doped Bi2O3-SiO2-Ga2O3 glasses

The broadband near-IR emission has been investigated in a series of Er/Tm co-doped Bi2O3-SiO2-Ga2O3 (BSG) glasses with 800 nm laser diode as an excitation source. A broadband emission extending from 1350 to 1650 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) around 165 nm is obtained in 0.2 wt% Er2O3 and 1.0 wt% Tm2O3 co-doped BSG glass. The fluorescence decay curves of glasses are measured and maximum energy transfer efficiency from Er3+ to Tm3+ reaches 71% when Tm3+ concentration is 1.0 wt%. The temperature dependence of the broadband emission spectra in Er3+-Tm3+ co-doped BSG glass is also recorded to further understand the energy-transfer processes between Er3+ and Tm3+. The present work suggests that Er/Tm co-doped BSG glasses can be a potential candidate for broadband integrated amplifier.