Optical properties of Yb3+ ions in fluorophosphate glasses for 1.0 μm solid-state infrared lasers

• Published in: Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics Lasers and optics, 2013-12, Vol.113 (4), p.527-535
• Main Authors: Venkata Krishnaiah, K., Jayasankar, C. K., Venkatramu, V., Leόn-Luis, S. F., Lavín, V., Chaurasia, S., Dhareshwar, L. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cross sections; Emission spectroscopy; Engineering; Glass; Lasers; Luminescence; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Product life cycle; Quantum Optics; Spectroscopic analysis; Spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0946-2171; 1432-0649
• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-013-5502-6

Yb 3+ -doped fluorophosphate glasses were prepared by melt-quenching technique and characterized their spectroscopic properties to assess the laser performance parameters. The magnitude of absorption (emission) cross-sections at 975 nm for all the studied Yb 3+ -doped glasses is found to be in the range of 0.29–1.50 × 10 −20 (0.59–1.99 × 10 −20  cm 2 ) which is much higher than those of commercial Kigre QX/Yb: 1.06 × 10 −20 (0.5 × 10 −20  cm 2 ) laser glass. The luminescence lifetimes of 2 F 5/2 level decrease (1.15–0.45 ms) with increase in Yb 2 O 3 concentration (0.1–4.0 mol%). Effect of OH − content on luminescence properties of Yb 3+ ions has also been investigated. The effect of radiative trapping has been discussed by using McCumber (McC) and Fuchtbauer–Ladenburge (F–L) methods. The product of experimental lifetimes and emission cross-sections for 0.1 mol% Yb 2 O 3 -doped glass is found to be 2.28 × 10 −20  cm 2  ms which indicates that the higher energy storage and extraction capability could be possible. The detailed spectroscopic results suggest that the studied glasses can be considered for high-power and ultrashort pulse laser applications.