Erbium doped tellurite glasses with improved thermal properties as promising candidates for laser action and amplification

• Tellurite glass composition with a high thermal stability compatible with fabrication of optical fibers.
• Er3+ Absorption, emission cross sections for the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition comparable to those obtained in laser materials.
• Large gain cross section for the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2(Er3+) transition.

The influence of composition on the thermal stability of tellurite glasses was investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The studied glasses were synthesized by conventional melting quenching method. The best thermal stability and poor crystallization tendency were obtained for the glass composed of 65TeO2–15ZnO–10Na2O–5BaO–3La2O3 doped with Er2O3 (2 mol %). This glass will be referred, in this article, as TZNBL: Er3+ glass.The spectroscopic properties of the above glass are investigated based on the Judd–Ofelt and McCumber theories.The calculated intensity parameters (Ω2,4,6) are compared to those obtained for Er3+ in other glasses. The radiative emission rate has been calculated for the different Er3+emitting levels. The high values of Ω4 and Ω6 confirm the results of the DSC experiment concerning the rigidity of the studied glass.Absorption, emission and gain cross section of the 4I13/2 ↔ 4I15/2 (Er3+) transition in the studied glass are reported and the results are compared to those of other glasses.The 4I13/2 ↔ 4I15/2 (Er3+) absorption and emission cross sections derived by the application of the Mc Cumber’s theory corroborate the Judd–Ofelt results.The whole of results demonstrate that the new composition leads to good thermal and mechanical properties as well efficient Er3+ absorption, emission cross sections, which make this glass as a promising candidate for laser action and amplification.

The addition of La2O3 and BaO in the glass composition allows increasing the rigidity and thermal stability against crystallization by increasing the values of Tg, Tc1, and Tc1 − Tg. Large absorption and stimulated emission cross-sections (σabs, σem) of Er3+ around 1530 mm, calculated based on the McCumber theory, can be compared to those of other laser materials.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (154 K)Download as PowerPoint slide