Optical Transition, Excitation State Absorption, and Energy Transfer Study of Er3+, Nd3+ Single-Doped, and Er3+/Nd3+ Codoped Tellurite Glasses for Mid-Infrared Laser Applications

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Vol. 94; no. 6; pp. 1766 - 1772
• Main Authors: Zheng, Yanfeng, Chen, Baojiu, Zhong, Haiyang, Sun, Jiashi, Cheng, Lihong, Li, Xiangping, Zhang, Jinsu, Tian, Yue, Lu, Weili, Wan, Jing, Yu, Tingting, Huang, Libo, Yu, Hongquan, Lin, Hai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.06.2011
• Subjects: Ceramics; Energy transfer; Excitation spectra; Glass; Laser applications; Melts; Optical transition; Quenching
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2010.04323.x

Nd3+, Er3+ single‐doped and Nd3+/Er3+ codoped tellurite glasses were prepared via a melt‐quenching technique, and their optical transition properties were studied in the framework of Judd–Ofelt theory. The differential excited state absorption cross section from 4I13/2 to 4I11/2 was obtained based on the McCumber theory; furthermore, the optical gain coefficient spectrum for 4I11/2→4I13/2 transition was calculated. The energy transfers 4F3/2(Nd3+)+4I15/2 (Er3+)→4I9/2(Nd3+)+4I9/2(Er3+) and 4I13/2(Er3+)+4I9/2(Nd3+)→4I15/2(Er3+)+4I15/2(Nd3+) in the codoped sample were analyzed by using Föster–Dexter theory and Inokuti–Hirayama's model, respectively; meanwhile, the energy transfer rates for both the energy transfer processes were confirmed. The results indicated that Nd3+ may be a good sensitizer for Er3+ to obtain intense mid‐infrared emission, and that Nd3+/Er3+ codoped tellurite glass may be a good candidate media for mid‐infrared lasers.