Spectroscopy and frequency upconversion of Er3+ ions in lead niobium germanate glasses

Abstract In this work we report the optical properties and upconversion luminescence of Er 3+ ions in lead–niobium–germanate glass (GeO 2 –PbO–Nb 2 O 5 ) suitable for use in optical waveguide devices. The optical properties of Er 3+ ions have been established in terms of absorption and emission spectra and lifetime measurements in the visible and infrared regions. The 1.5 μm emission cross-section has been determined from the line shape of the emission spectrum and the calculated emission probability for the 4 I 13/2 level. Upconversion emissions at 529, 548, and 653 nm have been obtained under infrared excitation at 803 nm in the 4 I 9/2 level and compared with those obtained under one photon excitation. Pumping power measurements were also carried out. The possible excitation mechanisms responsible for this upconversion luminescence are discussed.

[1]  K. Rajnak,et al.  Spectral Intensities of the Trivalent Lanthanides and Actinides in Solution. II. Pm3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, and Ho3+ , 1968 .

[2]  G. L. Vossler,et al.  Planar Er:Yb glass ion exchanged waveguide laser , 1995 .

[3]  Karl Gatterer,et al.  Optical Properties of Rare-Earth Ions in Lead Germanate Glasses , 2005 .

[4]  B. Judd,et al.  OPTICAL ABSORPTION INTENSITIES OF RARE-EARTH IONS , 1962 .

[5]  G. S. Ofelt.  Intensities of Crystal Spectra of Rare‐Earth Ions , 1962 .

[6]  W. E. Collins,et al.  Infrared to visible upconversion in Er3+‐doped‐lead‐germanate glass: Effects of Er3+ ion concentration , 1995 .

[7]  S. A. Pollack,et al.  Ion‐pair upconversion pumped laser emission in Er3+ ions in YAG, YLF, SrF2, and CaF2 crystals , 1988 .

[8]  W. Brocklesby,et al.  Ion-exchanged Er/Yb waveguide laser at 1.5 /spl mu/m pumped by laser diode , 1995 .

[9]  Anne C. Tropper,et al.  Fabrication and optical properties of lead‐germanate glasses and a new class of optical fibers doped with Tm3+ , 1993 .

[10]  F. Auzel,et al.  Materials and devices using double-pumped-phosphors with energy transfer , 1973 .

[11]  D. J. Diestler,et al.  Radiationless Processes in Molecules and Condensed Phases , 1976 .

[12]  M. J. Weber,et al.  Probabilities for Radiative and Nonradiative Decay of Er 3 + in La F 3 , 1967 .

[13]  Marvin J. Weber,et al.  Tailoring stimulated emission cross sections of Nd3+ laser glass: Observation of large cross sections for BiCl3 glasses , 1982 .

[14]  S. Ribeiro,et al.  Structural studies in lead germanate glasses: EXAFS and vibrational spectroscopy , 1993 .

[15]  Steven H. Morgan,et al.  Host‐dependent optical transitions of Er3+ ions in lead–germanate and lead‐tellurium‐germanate glasses , 1996 .

[16]  C. A. Millar,et al.  Upconversion pumped green lasing in erbium doped fluorozirconate fibre , 1991 .

[17]  Anne C. Tropper,et al.  1.9-μm operation of a Tm:lead germanate glass waveguide laser , 1994 .

[18]  W. A. Sibley,et al.  Optical transitions of Er 3 + ions in fluorozirconate glass , 1983 .