Three-photon-excited fluorescence of Tb3+-doped CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glass by femtosecond laser irradiation

A near infrared to visible blue, green, and red upconversion luminescence in a Tb3+-doped CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glass was studied, which was excited using 800 nm femtosecond laser irradiation. The upconversion luminescence was attributed to 5D3 → 7F5, 5D3 → 7F4, 5D3 → 7F3, 5D4 → 7F6, 5D4 → 7F5, 5D4 → 7F4, and 5D4 → 7F3 transitions of Tb3+. The relationship between upconversion luminescence intensity and the pump power indicated that a three-photon simultaneous absorption process was dominant in this upconversion luminescence. The intense red, green, and blue upconversion luminescence of Tb3+-doped CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glass may be potentially useful in developing three-dimensional display applications.