TeO2-GeO2-BaF2-Tm2O3 glass for ∼2 μm laser materials: Analysis of luminescence features and energy transfer behavior

Abstract

In this paper, we designed the glass composition and optimized the Tm3+ doping concentration to obtain a tellurite-germanate laser glass material with favorable luminescence in the ∼2 μm wavelength band. The optical features of the glass samples and the energy transfer behavior between rare-earth ions (Tm3+) were investigated comprehensively. Information on the internal structural units and various physical properties of the glass samples were determined. Combining the measured and calculated data of the experimental samples, it is clear that when doped with 1.25 mol% Tm2O3, the TGFT4 glass sample not only achieves a lower OH− content, but also has a good advantage in emission cross section, gain coefficient, spectroscopic figure of merit (FOM) and energy transfer rate. Furthermore, the tellurite-germanate glasses exhibit good thermodynamic properties. All the results suggest that Tm3+ doped tellurite-germanate glass materials are potentially competitive and applicable in the field of optical communication and laser design.