Spectroscopy features of Pr 3+ and Er 3+ ions in Li 2O–ZrO 2–SiO 2 glass matrices mixed with some sesquioxides

Abstract

The glasses of the composition Li 2O–ZrO 2–SiO 2: Pr 2O 3/Er 2O 3 mixed with three interesting sesquioxides (viz., Al 2O 3, Sc 2O 3, Y 2O 3) were synthesized. Optical absorption and fluorescence spectra (in the spectral range 350–2100 nm were studied at ambient temperature. The Judd–Ofelt theory was applied to characterize the absorption and luminescence spectra of Pr 3+ and Er 3+ ions in these glasses. Following the luminescence spectra, various radiative properties like transition probability A, branching ratio β and the radiative life time τ for different emission levels of two rare earth ions have been evaluated. The radiative life times for the upper levels 3P 0 (Pr 3+) and 4S 3/2 (Er 3+) have also been measured and quantum efficiencies were estimated. The variations observed in these parameters were discussed in the light of changing environment of rare earth ions due to mixing of different sesquioxides in the glass network.