Er^3+ doped and Er^3+/Pr^3+ co-doped gallium-antimony-sulphur chalcogenide glasses for infrared applications

Abstract

Er3+- and Pr3+-doped Ga-Sb-S chalcogenide glasses were prepared by the traditional melt-quenching method, and their optical properties in the infrared range were investigated. In order to enhance the mid infrared emissions at 2740 nm of Er3+, Pr3+ was introduced into the glass system. Under 808 nm excitation, the emission of 2740 nm was significantly enhanced in the co-doped sample while the emission of 1550 nm was oppositely reduced. Fluorescence decay results indicated that the lifetime of Er3+: 4I13/2 at 1550 nm was evidently decreased in the co-doped sample. The mechanism of the energy transfer process between Er3+ and Pr3+ ions were investigated in this work.