Optical Analysis of Er³⁺:Boro-Fluoro-Phosphate Glasses

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with the preparation and optical analysis of Er³⁺ (0.2 mol%) boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses in the following glass compositions:

• Series A: 69.8 B₂O₃–10 P₂O₅–10(ZnO/CdO/TeO₂)–10 AlF₃

• Series B: 69.8 B₂O₃–10 P₂O₅–10(ZnO/CdO/TeO₂)–10 LiF

Measured Vis-NIR absorption spectra of Er³⁺:boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses have revealed nine absorption bands at 377 nm, 405 nm, 450 nm, 486 nm, 519 nm, 543 nm, 649 nm, 973 nm and 1529 nm, which correspond with the transitions of ⁴I_15/2 → ⁴G_11/2, (²G_9/2,⁴H_9/2), ⁴F_5/2, ⁴F_7/2, ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2, ⁴F_9/2, ⁴I_11/2, and ⁴I_13/2, respectively. With an excitation at λ _exci = 375 nm, a bright green emission (⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2) at 547 nm has been observed from these erbium glasses. Judd–Ofelt characteristic intensity Ω_λ (λ = 2, 4, 6) parameters are obtained from the absorption spectra, and these results were used to compute the radiative properties of Er³⁺:boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses. The NIR emission (⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2) at 1547 nm from these glasses was measured with an Ar⁺ laser (514.5 nm) as an excitation source.

KEYWORDS:

• Er³⁺ glasses
• optical analysis