(INVITED)Judd-Ofelt analysis, visible to NIR photoluminescence emission under 450 nm and 976 nm excitations and energy transfer of barium fluorotellurite glasses doping with Ho3+, Yb3+, Ho3+:Yb3+

Abstract

Barium fluorotellurite glasses doping with Ho3+, Yb3+, and Ho3+:Yb3 were fabricated using the conventional melt and quenching method, and their optical properties were studied using different optical spectroscopic techniques. The FITR absorption band at 3000 cm−1 was used to investigate OH- concentrations of the prepared glasses, which increased with Yb3+ content. However, it decreased by substituting a portion of BaF2 content with Ba2CO3 concentration. The electric dipole line strengths and Judd-Ofelt parameters were estimated using UV–visible near-infrared (NIR) optical absorption spectra to gain information on the rare earth ions doped glasses for laser applications. The various radiative parameters such as line strengths, optical intensity, and radiative rates from the higher energy levels, including 5F4+5S2, 5F5, 5I4,5I5,5I6 and 5I7, to the ground state, 5I8 have been reported and discussed. The influence of the Yb3+ and Ba2CO3 concentrations on the upconversion and downconversion photoluminescence emission intensities of the glasses prepared have been investigated by pumping with 450 nm and 976 nm excitation sources. Under 450 nm and 976 nm, the NIR photoluminescence emissions reveal a band ranging from 980 nm to 1220 nm attributing to an overlap between Yb3+ and Ho3+ transitions. The influence of Yb3+ concentration on photoluminescence lifetime at the 2F5/2→2F7/2, 5F4+5S2 →5I8 and 5I6 →5I8 transitions under 976 nm laser excitation has been studied and reported. The results indicate that lifetime decreases with increasing Yb3+ concentration attributing to an efficient energy transfer from Yb3+ to Ho3+ ions. The energy transfer efficiency from Yb3+ → Ho3+ has been examined, which rises from 30% to 47% upon increasing Yb3+ content. Nevertheless, it decreases with the mixing of BaF2 and Ba2CO3 lattice modifier contents. The results demonstrated that the 1200 nm (5I6 →5I8 transition) has remarkable potential for developing fiber lasers.