Near infrared broadband emission characteristics of bismuth-doped aluminophosphate glass have been investigated. Broad infrared emissions peaking at 1210nm, 1173nm and 1300nm were observed when the glass was pumped by 405nm laser diode (LD), 514nm Ar+ laser and 808nm LD, respectively. The full widths at half maximum (FWHMs) are 235nm, 207nm and 300nm for the emissions at 1210nm, 1173nm and 1300nm, respectively. Based on the energy matching conditions, it is suggested that the infrared emission may be ascribed to 3P1? 3P0 transition of Bi+. The broadband infrared luminescent characteristics of the glasses indicate that they are promising for broadband optical fiber amplifiers and tunable lasers.

Broadband infrared luminescence from bismuth-doped germanium oxide glasses prepared by a conventional melting-quenching technique was discovered. The absorption spectrum of the glasses covered a wide range from the visible to the near-infrared wavelength regions and consisted of five broad peaks below 370, 500, 700, 800, and 1000 nm. The fluorescence spectrum exhibited broadband characteristics (FWHM) greater than 300 nm with a maximum at 1300 nm pumped by an 808-nm laser. The fluorescence lifetime at room temperature decreased with increasing Bi2O3 concentration in the glass. Codoping of aluminum and bismuth was indispensable for the broadband infrared luminescence in GeO2:Bi, Al glass.