Spectroscopic properties of Yb3+ doped PbO–Bi2O3–Ga2O3 glasses for IR laser applications

Abstract

Abstract PbO–Bi 2 O 3 –Ga 2 O 3 glasses doped with different concentrations of Yb 3+ are presented. The spectroscopic properties and laser parameters are calculated and a comparison between different results obtained when calculating the Yb 3+ emission cross-section with the reciprocity method and with the Fuchtbauer–Ladenburg formula is presented. The behavior of the near-infrared luminescence is described theoretically by a rate equation and compared with the experimental results. This host doped with Yb 3+ is a promising material for laser action at 1019 nm, with properties similar to other known glasses used as active laser media; the emission cross-section of 1.1 × 10 −20 cm 2 , the high absorption cross-section (of 2.0 × 10 −20 cm 2 ) and a minimum pump intensity of 2.4 kW/cm 2 are interesting properties for short pulse generation.