Laser Characteristics of Er³⁺/Yb³⁺:K‐BaF₂‐Al‐Phosphate Glasses

Abstract

Er3+ and Er3+/Yb3+‐doped phosphate‐based glasses have been synthesized by melt quenching technique and are characterized by absorption spectra, infrared emission, decay curves, Fourier transform infrared spectrum and up‐conversion studies. From the absorption spectra, intensity parameters and radiative properties have been derived utilizing the Judd–Ofelt theory. Er3+‐doped glass is found to have larger radiative lifetime for the laser originating from 4I13/2 level at 1537 nm. Infrared and visible characteristic emissions have been measured by exciting at 790 nm through down‐ and up‐conversion, respectively. The up‐conversion spectra consist of intense green emission at around 525 and 545 nm ascribed to the 2H11/2 → 4I15/2 and 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 transitions, respectively, and a weak red emission at around 656 nm due to the 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transition of Er3+ ions. Various spectroscopic and laser characteristics of these glasses have been calculated and compared with those of similar reported ones.