Preparation of high-purity Pr(3+) doped Ge-Ga-Sb-Se glasses with intensive middle infrared luminescence

Glass materials with high emission characteristics and low content of limiting impurities are required for creation of devices for middle infrared (mid-IR) fiber optics. The paper presents the results of preparation of high-purity Pr3+-doped GaxGeySbzSe1−(x+y+z) (х=3÷4, у=20÷26, z=5÷11) glasses. The multi-stage technique for synthesis of these glasses is developed. It is based on chemical distillation purification of glass components and the transport reaction for purification of gallium. Transmitting, as well as thermal and luminescent properties of glasses are investigated. The content of limiting impurities of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen in the glass samples was ≤0.2 ppm wt. The 1300-3000 ppm wt Pr3+-doped Ga-Ge-Sb-Se bulk glasses exhibit an intensive photoluminescence in the spectral range of 3.5-5.5 μm.