Enhanced 3.1µm mid-infrared emission from Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped tellurite glass pumped by 980nm laser diode

Abstract

Yb3+ ions co-doping was attempted for the first time for sensitizing Er3+ ions and increasing the 3.1 µm fluorescence, originating from the transition from Er3+: 4S3/2 → 4F9/2. Under a 980 nm LD excitation, strong 3.1 µm fluorescence in the mid-infrared (MIR) region and the related energy level change process were investigated. An enhanced 3.1 µm emission was attained from the Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped tellurite glass with the increment in Yb2O3 content, which demonstrated that the Yb3+ ions may act as the sensitizer to the Er3+ ions, thereby providing an effective energy transport channel from the 2F5/2 state of Yb3+ ions to the 4S3/2 state of Er3+ions. Moreover, the measured emission band full width at half maximum reaches about 164 nm along with the maximum emission cross-section (2.88 × 10−21 cm2). The outcome of our work suggests that upon co-doping with Er3+/Yb3+, the tellurite glass may function as a prospective material for fabricating the matrix of 3.1 µm MIR lasers.