Near-IR and mid-IR luminescence and energy transfer in fluoroindate glasses co-doped with Er3+/Tm3+

Abstract

This work reports on the analysis of near-IR and mid-IR luminescence spectra and their decays in fluoroindate glasses co-doped with Er3+/Tm3+. In particular, the energy transfer processes between rare earth ions in fluoroindate glasses pumped by 796 nm and 980 nm laser diode have been examined. Owing to donor-acceptor energy transfer and superposition of 1.45 µm (Tm3+: 3H4 → 3F4) and 1.55 µm (Er3+: 4I13/2 → 4I15/2) radiative transitions in fluoride glass co-doped with 0.1ErF3/0.3TmF3, a broadband near-IR luminescence in the range of third telecommunication window (FWHM = 155 nm, λexc = 796 nm) was obtained. Further analysis in the mid-IR spectral range (2.77 µm, λexc = 980 nm) showed that fluoroindate glass with 0.1ErF3/0.3TmF3 enables enhancement of luminescence intensity by c.a 14%.