Optical Transition, Excitation State Absorption, and Energy Transfer Study of Er3+, Nd3+ Single-Doped, and Er3+/Nd3+ Codoped Tellurite Glasses for Mid-Infrared Laser Applications

Abstract

Nd 3+ , Er 3+ single-doped and Nd 3+ /Er 3+ codoped tellurite glasses were prepared via a melt-quenching technique, and their optical transition properties were studied in the framework of Judd-Ofelt theory. The differential excited state absorption cross section from 4 I 13/2 to 4 I 11/2 was obtained based on the McCumber theory; furthermore, the optical gain coefficient spectrum for 4 I 11/2 → 4 I 13/2 transition was calculated. The energy transfers 4 F 3/2 (Nd 3+ )+ 4I 15/2 (Er 3+ )→ 4 I 9/2 (Nd 3+ )+ 4 I 9/2 (Er 3+ ) and 4 I 13/2 (Er 3+ )+ 4 I 9/2 (Nd 3+ )→ 4 I 15/2 (Er 3+ )+ 4 I 15/2 (Nd 3+ ) in the codoped sample were analyzed by using Foster-Dexter theory and Inokuti-Hirayama's model, respectively ; meanwhile, the energy transfer rates for both the energy transfer processes were confirmed. The results indicated that Nd 3+ may be a good sensitizer for Er 3+ to obtain intense mid-infrared emission, and that Nd 3+ /Er 3+ codoped tellurite glass may be a good candidate media for mid-infrared lasers.