Optical parameters of Nd3+:Er3+:Yb3+ co-doped borosilicate glasses and their energy transfers at high temperature

Abstract

This paper reports that a series of Nd3+:Er3+:Yb3+ co-doped borosilicate glasses have been prepared and their absorption spectra measured. The J—O intensity parameters Ωk (k = 2, 4, 6), spontaneous radiative lifetime τrad, spontaneous transition probability A, fluorescence branching ratio β and oscillator strength fed of the Nd3+ ions at room temperature are calculated based on Judd—Ofelt (J—O) theory. The temperature dependence of the up-conversion photoluminescence characteristics in a Nd3+:Er3+:Yb3+ co-doped sample is studied under a 978 nm semiconductor laser excitation, and the energy transfer mechanisms among Yb3+, Er3+ and Nd3+ ions are analysed. The results show that the J—O intensity parameters Ω2 increase when the Nd3+ concentration of the Nd3+:Er3+:Yb3+ co-doped borosilicate glasses increases. The possibility of spontaneous transition is small and lifetimes are long at levels of 4F5/2 and 4F3/2. The intensity of Nd3+ emissions at 595, 691, 753, 813 and 887 nm are markedly enhanced when the sample temperature exceeds 400 K. The reasons being the cooperation of the secondary sensitization from Er3+ to Nd3+ and the contribution of a multi-phonon.