Judd–Ofelt analysis of the Er3+(4f11) absorption intensities in phosphate glass: Er3+, Yb3

• Published in: Journal of applied physics 2003-02, Vol.93 (4), p.2041-2046
• Main Authors: Sardar, Dhiraj K., Gruber, John B., Zandi, Bahram, Hutchinson, J. Andrew, Trussell, C. Ward
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-8979; 1089-7550
• DOI: 10.1063/1.1536738

A spectroscopic Judd–Ofelt investigation has been performed on Er3+ in the doubly doped phosphate glass:Er3+, Yb3+ in order to assess its potential as a laser system. The standard Judd–Ofelt model was applied to the room-temperature absorption intensities of Er3+(4f11) transitions to determine the intensity parameters: Ω2=6.28×10−20 cm2, Ω4=1.03×10−20 cm2, and Ω6=1.39×10−20 cm2 in the phosphate glass host. The intensity parameters are used to determine the radiative decay rates (emission probabilities of transitions) and branching ratios of the Er3+ transitions from the excited-state J manifolds to the lower-lying J′ manifolds. The radiative lifetimes of these excited states are determined from the radiative decay rates. The predicted decay rates and radiative lifetimes are compared to those of Er3+ transitions in other glass hosts. The quantum efficiency of the eye-safe laser transition I13/24→4I15/2 (1.54 μm) of Er3+ is approximately 80% in the phosphate glass host.