Spectroscopic properties of the 1.8 μm emission of Tm 3+/Yb 3+ codoped TeO 2–ZnO–Bi 2O 3 glasses with efficient energy transfer

Abstract

Tm 3+-doped and Tm 3+/Yb 3+-codoped TeO 2–ZnO–Bi 2O 3 (TZB) glasses are prepared by melt-quenching method. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters ( Ω t t = 2, 4, 6), radiative transition rate, and radiative lifetime of Tm 3+ are calculated based on the absorption spectra. The 1.8 μm emission of the samples is investigated under 980 nm laser excitation. The absorption, emission cross-sections, and gain coefficient of Tm 3+: 3F 4 → 3H 6 are calculated. The energy transfer processes of Yb 3+–Yb 3+ and Yb 3+–Tm 3+ are analyzed, the results show that the Yb 3+ ions can transfer their energy to Tm 3+ ions with large energy transfer coefficient, and a maximum efficiency of 79%.