Sensitization of Yb3+ by Nd3+ emission in alkaline-earth chloro borate glasses for laser and fiber amplifier applications

Abstract

Abstract Intense near-infrared emitting alkaline-earth chloro borate (AECB) glasses doped with Lanthanide (Ln) ions (Ln = Nd and Yb) were synthesized by conventional melt quenching technique and characterized with absorption, photoluminescence excitation (PLE), photoluminescence (PL) and PL decay spectral measurements. For Nd3+ ion, intense NIR emission in the range 850–1450 nm was observed under 824 nm excitation. Intense and characteristic emission bands of Nd3+ (at 883, 1067 and 1340 nm) and Yb3+ (at 980 nm) were observed with 585 nm excitation. Yb3+ emission at 980 nm is ascribed to 2F5/2 → 2F7/2 transition. The dependence of NIR emission, lifetime and the energy transfer efficiency (ηETE) with the concentration of Yb3+ was investigated in detail. The PLE and PL spectra along with donor decay curves have been used to establish the energy transfer mechanism between Nd3+-Yb3+ ions. The results indicate that the sensitization of Yb3+ is possible via 4f-4f transition of Nd3+ ions in AECB glasses. The luminescence properties of the Nd3+ singly doped and Nd3+-Yb3+ co-doped AECB glasses indicate their suitability as multiple pump channel sources for Yb3+ fiber laser systems.