Influence of Tb3+ concentration on the optical properties and Verdet constant of magneto-optic ABS-PZZ glass

Highly transparent magneto-optical (MO) glasses (heavily xTb-doped SiO2-B2O3-P2O5-ZnO-ZrO, x = 15, 25, 32, 35, 40 mol%) were prepared by high temperature melting-quenching technique. The optical and magnetooptical properties have been measured at room temperature. The infrared transmission spectra and XRD confirms that [BO4], [BO3], [SiO4], [PO4], [BPO4] units the glass structure without crystallization by accommodating more Tb ions. The typical absorption bands could be observed in the UV-vis transmission spectra ascribing to 5d-4f electronic transition of Tb3+ and the absorption edges shift to a longer wavelength by increasing the Terbium ions content. The intensity of the emission peaks and decay time which is in the order of milliseconds decreases caused by concentration quenching. The cross-relaxation is responsible for the luminescence gradually disappearing of 5D3. The highest Verdet constant of the prepared glasses at room temperature @632.8 nm is −136.648 rad/T/m and the contribution V/N of each ion Tb is proportional to mole volume.