Influence of SiO2 on the Stark splitting and spectroscopic properties of Yb3+ in phosphate glass

This study focuses on the Stark splitting, spectroscopic properties and lasing performance parameters of Yb3+ in conventional phosphate glass modified by SiO2. Introducing silica into phosphate glass is an effective method to increase the maximum Stark splitting energy of 2F7/2 (Ed). The Ed in phosphate glass with 25 mol% silica was enhanced by 203 cm−1. Interestingly, phosphate glass with 5 mol% silica offers small coefficients of thermal expansion, most obvious Stark splitting improvement, higher stimulated emission cross-section, longer lifetime and the largest SFL, which may ascribed to the formation of Si(6). From the point of the comprehensive performance of the material, it suggests that the introduction of small amount of SiO2 is better for Yb3+ doped phosphate glass.