Effect of BaF2 Content on Luminescence of Rare‐Earth Ions in Borate and Germanate Glasses

Abstract

Rare‐earth‐doped oxyfluoride germanate and borate glasses were synthesized and next studied using spectroscopic methods. Influence of fluoride modifier on luminescence properties of rare earths in different glass hosts was examined. The excitation and emission spectra of Pr3+ and Er3+ ions in the studied glasses were registered. The emission spectra of Pr3+ ions in germanate and borate glasses are quite different and depend strongly on the glass host. In samples doped with Er3+ ions emission bands located around 1530 nm corresponding to the main 4I13/2→4I15/2 laser transition were registered, independently of the glass host. Quite long‐lived near‐infrared luminescence of Er3+ ions was observed for germanate glasses with low BaF2 content, while in borate glass systems influence of barium fluoride on luminescence lifetimes is not so evident. The Judd–Ofelt calculations were used in order to determine quantum efficiencies of excited states of rare‐earth ions in germanate and borate glasses.