Mid-infrared luminescence of Dy3+ ions in modified Ga-Sb-S chalcogenide glasses and fibers

Abstract

Ga8Sb32S60 chalcogenide glass is modified by arsenic (As) to further improve its thermal stability against crystallization, and the 3–5 μm mid-infrared (MIR) luminescent properties of Dy3+ ions in the modified glasses are studied. Furthermore, fibers consisting of Dy3+-doped glass core and undoped glass cladding are drawn, and the transmission losses and MIR luminescence of the fibers are investigated. The substitution of a small part of Sb by As could remarkably improve the thermal stability of the glass without leading to significant changes on the optical transparency and the effective phonon energy. Although Dy3+ addition has a negative effect on the thermal stability of the modified glasses, the doped glasses are still sufficiently stable for fiber drawing. Dy3+ ions in the modified glasses show strong MIR emissions around 2.95 μm and 4.40 μm with high quantum efficiencies and large stimulated emission cross sections. The fabricated fibers exhibit a background loss of less than 2 dB/m in the 2–6 μm spectral range and intense MIR emissions.