Pr³⁺- and Pr³⁺/ Er³⁺-Doped Selenide Glasses for Potential 1.6 mm Optical Amplifier Materials

Spectroscopy of infrared transitions of Pr3+ ions in Ga–Ge–Sb–Se glasses

“…As for quantum efficiencies, this product for the 1 G 4 -3 H 5 transition (232 Â 10 À26 cm 2 s) is comparable with that reported in sulphide glasses [25]. On the other hand, the t exp s e product for the ( 3 F 3 , 3 F 4 )-3 H 4 transition in our Ga-Ge-Sb-Se glasses (848 Â 10 À26 cm 2 s) is the highest one among the published data [9]. No literature data concerning chalcogenide glasses were available for Table 4 Measured lifetimes, t exp , radiative lifetimes, t rad , radiative quantum efficiencies, Z, emission cross-sections s e , and t exp s e products for the 1 G 4 -3 H 5 , ( 3 F 3 , 3 F 4 )-3 H 4 , and Transition from-to t exp (ms) t rad (ms) Z (%) s e (10 À20 cm 2 ) t exp s e (10 À26 cm 2 s) comparison in the case of the ( 3 H 6 , 3 F 2 )-3 H 4 transition for which it is found a t exp s e of 132 Â 10 À26 cm 2 s.…”

“…The radiative quantum efficiencies of the 1 G 4 -3 H 5 and ( 3 H 6 , 3 F 2 )-3 H 4 transitions evaluated for our Ga-Ge-Sb-Se glasses are comparable with previously reported data (i.e., $50-70% and $6% for the 1 G 4 -3 H 5 and ( 3 H 6 , 3 F 2 )-3 H 4 transitions, respectively) for sulphide and other selenide glasses [3,7]. To our knowledge, the quantum efficiency of the ( 3 F 3 , 3 F 4 )-3 H 4 transition is the highest one in the studied glasses when compared with other chalcogenide glasses [7,9]. This fact is interesting from the point of view of potential application of Pr 3+ -doped Ga-Ge-Sb-Se glasses as U-band (covering 1625-1675 nm spectral region) optical amplifiers.…”

“…Other advantages of chalcogenide glasses are (i) a shift of the position of the long-wavelength absorption edge to the longer wavelengths as compared with oxide and halide glasses, (ii) a good mechanical and chemical stability, and (iii) a relatively good glass-forming ability. Due to these properties, the RE 3+ -doped chalcogenide glasses in general [4][5][6] and those doped with Pr 3+ in particular [7][8][9][10] are good candidates for applications such as infrared lasers, fiber amplifiers, etc.…”

Optical properties of Pr3+ in selenide glasses modified with CsI

“…Pr 3+ ions inside selenide glasses can be excited to the thermally coupled fluorescing ( 3 F 3 , 3 F 4 ) level with either a commercially available high-power laser diode operating at $1.48 lm or Er-doped fiber laser at $1.53 lm [2]. These excitation wavelengths correspond to approximately a half of the band gap energy of typical As-and Sb-containing selenide glasses.…”

“…3 H 4 transition of trivalent Pr becomes practical when Pr 3+ ions are doped into selenide glasses [1], and these glasses are promising as fiberoptic amplifiers for the U-band (1625-1675 nm) optical communication window. Efforts have been focused on evaluating emission properties of Pr 3+ from selenide host materials such as Ge-Ga-As-Se and Ge-Ga-Sb-Se glasses together with fabrication of a low-loss single-mode selenide optical fiber [1][2][3].…”