Erbium-activated modified silica glasses with high 4I13/2 luminescence quantum yield

In this paper we report on optical and spectroscopic properties of an innovative erbium-doped modified silicate Baccarat glass of molar composition: 77.29SiO2:11.86K2O:10.37PbO:0.48Sb2O3. Two different sets of samples were produced, containing 0.2 and 0.5 mol% Er3+ ions, respectively. Optical and spectroscopic assessment of these glasses was performed by absorption, photoluminescence, and refractive index measurements. The quantum efficiency was estimated comparing measured and radiative lifetime of the 4I13/2 metastable state of the Er3+, the latter obtained by Judd–Ofelt analysis.