Upconverting Tm3+ doped Ba–Y–Yb–F thin film waveguides for visible and ultraviolet light sources

Abstract

We report the results of Tm3+ doped Ba–Y–Yb–F thin film planar waveguides in glassy form, which produced red, green, blue, and ultraviolet upconverted luminescence when pumped by infrared radiation at λ=960 nm. The films of nominal composition BaYYbF8 doped with 1% Tm have been deposited with both thermal and e-beam evaporation techniques on substrates of fused silica, Si, and GaAs. Planar waveguiding was demonstrated for the films deposited on fused silica. Optimal deposition conditions with respect to the ability of the films to produce upconverted luminescence and low propagation loss are discussed.