Effect of F − ions on physical and spectroscopic properties of Yb 3+-doped TeO 2-based glasses

Abstract

The effects of F − ions on physical and spectroscopic properties of the Yb 3+ in tellurite glass system are investigated. The results show that the glass system takes on good thermal stability with the content of ZnF 2 lower than 15 mol%, both the emission cross-section and the fluorescence lifetime of Yb 3+ ions increase evidently which indicate that such oxyfluoride tellurite glass system is a promising laser host matrix for high power generation. FT–IR spectra were used to analyze the effect of F− ions on the structure of tellurite glasses and OH − groups in this glass system. Analysis demonstrates that addition of fluoride decreases the symmetry of the structure of tellurite glasses which increases the emission cross-section and removes the OH − groups, and which improves the measured fluorescence lifetime of Yb 3+ ions.