Optical properties of Tm 3+ ions in lithium borate glasses

Abstract

Optical properties of Tm 3+ ions are investigated in the following lithium borate (LBO) glasses: Li 2CO 3 + H 3BO 3 and MCO 3 + Li 2CO 3 + H 3BO 3 (M = Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba). The assigned energy level data of Tm 3+ (4f 12) in these borate glasses as well as the data that are available for some other systems in the literature are analysed in terms of a parametrized Hamiltonian model that includes 14 free-ion parameters. The absorption linestrengths are measured for Tm 3+:LBO glasses. Using these data, intensity parameters (Ω λ, λ = 2, 4, 6), radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes, fluorescence branching ratios and integrated absorption cross-sections for fluorescent levels of Tm 3+:LBO glasses are calculated by applying Judd-Ofelt theory. The effect of glass network formers and glass modifiers on the optical properties of Tm 3+:glasses are discussed.