Increased radiative lifetime of rare earth-doped zinc oxyhalide tellurite glasses

Abstract

We have investigated the structural and optical properties of rare earth-doped zinc tellurite glasses modified by the substitution of ZnF2. Raman and phonon sideband spectroscopies were employed to characterize changes in the glass structure as well as to probe vibrational behavior in the immediate vicinity of the rare earth ion. These measurements are combined with photoluminescence and optical absorption to monitor the effect of halide substitution upon the optical behavior of the rare earth dopant. A substantial increase in the intrinsic radiative lifetime of Nd3+ is observed with increasing halide concentration.

Optical spectroscopy of lanthanide ions in ZnO–TeO2 glasses

“…However, we note that the present V 2 and V 6 parameters for the 19ZnO-80TeO 2 -1Nd 2 O 3 glass are significantly different from the corresponding ones reported by Sidebottom et al [12] for a glass of similar composition. We have no explanation for this discrepancy.…”

“…The relative abundance of these units depends on the composition. Ln 3 + doped zinc tellurite glasses have been studied for Ln= Pr [7] and Nd [12,13], showing promise for technological applications and interesting properties. In particular, a substantial increase of the radiative lifetime of the 4 F 3/2 state of Nd 3 + was found in the case of ZnO -TeO 2 glasses upon partial substitution of ZnO with ZnF 2 [11].…”

Luminescence in Rare Earth Ion‐Doped Oxide Compounds

“…This last property makes these materials good candidates for laser applications [30]. RE 3+ -doped zinc-tellurite glasses have been studied for RE = Nd [31].…”

Er3+-doped fluorotellurite thin film glasses with improved photoluminescence emission at 1.53 µm

“…The addition of fluorine reduces the OH -concentration in fluorotellurite glasses [13,14,15] and leads to a reduction of electron-phonon coupling [13]. The decrease of the multiphonon relaxation rate increases the quantum efficiency from excited states of RE ions, thus increasing their emission lifetime [16,17]. In addition, fluorotellurite glasses show an enhancement of RE radiative transition rates and a spectral broadening of their photoluminescence (PL) emission bands due to their high refractive index and the variety of sites for the RE ions [7,16].…”

“…The decrease of the multiphonon relaxation rate increases the quantum efficiency from excited states of RE ions, thus increasing their emission lifetime [16,17]. In addition, fluorotellurite glasses show an enhancement of RE radiative transition rates and a spectral broadening of their photoluminescence (PL) emission bands due to their high refractive index and the variety of sites for the RE ions [7,16]. In particular, fluorotellurite glasses belonging to the TeO 2 -ZnO-ZnF 2 system are promising RE hosts to be used in active optical applications, since they present high absorption cross-section [13,17], broad emission (≈ 150 nm) that covers S, C+L and U telecommunication bands when codoped with Er 3+ and Tm 3+ [18], and laser emission has been demonstrated in the case of Nd 3+ doped fluorotellurites [19].…”