1.3 mu m emission and multiphonon relaxation phenomena in PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3 glasses doped with rare-earths

Abstract

The 1.3 mu m fluorescent emissions from PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3 glasses doped with Pr3+ or Dy3+ were measured. Modified Judd-Ofelt analysis was applied to the Pr3+-doped glasses to obtain intensity parameters and radiative properties. Emission from the Pr3+:(1)G(4) --> H-3(5) transition in heavy metal oxide (HMO) glass was centered at the wavelength of 1320 nm with a spectral bandwidth of 100 nm. The lifetime of the (1)G(4) level was 53 mu s with a quantum efficiency of 9%. Excited-state absorption near the 1.3 mu m emission were comparable to those in fluoride glasses. Multiphonon relaxation rates in PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3 glasses calculated from the lifetimes were similar to those of fluoride glasses,; but were the smallest among oxide glasses. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.