NIR fluorescence spectroscopic investigations of Er3+-ions doped borate based tellurium calcium zinc niobium oxide glasses

A series of Er3+ ions doped tellurium calcium zinc niobium borate glasses were prepared by the melt quenching technique. The prepared samples were investigated by optical absorption and near infrared fluorescence spectroscopic studies. The obtained Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ωλ (λ=2, 4 and 6) were determined through experimental and calculated oscillator strengths obtained from absorption spectra and their results are studied and compared with reported literature. The stark-level energies of 4I13/2 excited and 4I15/2 ground states were evaluated by using both the absorption and emission measurements. The effect of Er3+ ion concentration on the emission intensity of 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition was discussed. Intense and broad 1.53 µm infrared fluorescence is observed at 980 nm diode laser excitation. Photoluminescence (PL) and its decay behavior studies were carried out for the transition 4I13/2→4I15/2 at 1.53 µm emission. The broad emission together with higher values of the bandwidth (81 nm), stimulated emission cross-section (32.25×10−22 cm2) and lifetime (530 µs for 1.0 mol% of Er3+) of level 4I13/2 make these glasses attractive for broadband amplifiers. From the analysis of spectroscopic data, the present glass is a prospective photonic material for practical applications in the visible and NIR region.