2 μm mid-infrared optical spectra of Tm3+-doped germanium gallate glasses

Glasses with the composition of 65GeO212Ga2O3-10BaO-8Li2O-5La2O3(molar ratio) doped with 1.526 wt.%, 3.006 wt.%, 5.836 wt.%, 11.028 wt.%, and 15.678 wt.% Tm2O3, respectively, were fabricated by conventional melting method. According to the absorption spectra and the Judd-Ofelt theory, the J-O strength parameters (Ω2,Ω4, Ω6) were calculated, with which the radiative transition probabilities,branching ratios and radiative lifetimes were obtained. The infrared emission spectra (with 808 nm LD excitation) at～1.47 and～1.8 μm of various concentrations of Tm3+-doped glasses were studied. The emission intensity at～1.8 μm reached to the maximum when the Tm2O3-doping concentration was near to be～3.006 wt.% (1.0 mol.%), and then decreased as doping concentration increased further. The mechanism of the fluorescence intensity change was explained with the cross-relaxation effect and the concentration quenching effect of Tm3+. Meanwhile, according to McCumber theory, the absorption and emission cross-sections corresponding to the 3F4→3H6 transitions of Tm3+ at 1.8 μm was obtained. For Tm3+-doped germanate glasses, the maximum emission cross-section reached a value higher than that re-ported for fluorozircoaluminate glasses. It is expected to be a favorable candidate host for～2.0 μm mid-inflated laser because the glass shows favorable optical spectra.

Tm^(3+)-doped tellurite glass with Yb^(3+) energy sensitized for broadband amplifier at 1400–1700 nm bands

A kind of novel experiment was disclosed as it possessed two bands of fluorescence emission at 1.4 and 1.6 μm, which were perfectly complimentary to the current C band of optic communication. The fluorescence was based on energy transfer and up-conversion processes between Tm^3＋ and Yb^3＋ under direct pumping of 975 nm LD. The spectra and lifetimes of Tm^3＋ fluorescence in the tellurite glass were described. The corresponding fluorescence characteristics and energy migration process were analyzed by the method of lifetime and intensity comparison. The mechanism of the up-conversion based IR fluorescence was presented upon analyzing the multi-photon pumping process. The potential advantages of Tm^3＋/Yb^3＋ co-doped tellurite glass as amplifier material were concluded.

Gain properties of germanate glasses singly doped with Tm^(3+) and Ho^(3+) ions

Two kinds of germanate glasses singly doped with the ion concentration of 2.0mol.%Tm3＋ and 2.0mol.%Ho3＋, respectively, were prepared.According to McCumber theory, the absorption and stimulated emission cross-sections corresponding to the 3H6←→3F4 transitions of Tm3＋（at 1.8 μm） and the 5I8←→5I7 transitions of Ho3＋（at 2.0 μm） were obtained, and respective gain cross-section spectra were also computed as a function of population inversion according to absorption and emission cross-sections and the ion concentrations.For Tm3＋-doped germanate glasses, the maximum of the absorption, emission, and gain cross-sections reached a value higher than those reported for fluorozirconate, fluoride, and oxyfluoride glasses.For Ho3＋-doped germanate glasses, the maximum of absorption, emission, and gain cross-sections reached a value higher than that reported for fluorozircoaluminate glasses.Hence, these Tm3＋-doped and Ho3＋-doped germanate glasses exhibited an advantage for application in mid-infrared lasers at about 1.8 and 2.0 μm wavelength.