Highly Er3+ doped fluorotellurite glass for 1.5 µm broadband amplification and 2.7 µm microchip laser applications

Abstract

The fluorescence properties in IR region of fluorotellurite glass with high Er3+ concentration up to 13 mol% are investigated and optimum concentration of 2.7 µm emission is 11 mol%, followed by a decrease in fluorescence intensity. The thermal characteristic parameter (ΔT = 98 °C) based on DSC curve shows a good thermal stability. The FWHM corresponding to 1.5 µm broadens as Er3+ increases and reaches a maximum of 110 nm (13 mol%) which shows superior bandwidth properties. The high amplifier gain value(σemi × τmea) of 11.87 × 10–21 cm2 ms, along with longer lifetime (1.72 ms), which benefits from the low phonon energy (612 cm−1) and hydroxyl content (0.03 cm−1), indicates the ideal 2.7 µm laser characteristics. Hopefully, the glass studied here may be find potential applications in the fields of fiber amplifier and MIR microchip lasers.