NIR luminescence studies on Er{sup 3+}:Yb{sup 3+} co-doped sodium telluroborate glasses for lasers and optical amplifer applications
Er{sup 3+}:Yb{sup 3+} co-doped Sodium telluroborate glasses were prepared with the chemical composition (49.5–x)B{sub 2}O{sub 3}+25TeO{sub 2}+5Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3}+10ZnO+10NaF+0.5Er{sub 2}O{sub 3}+xYb{sub 2}O{sub 3} (where x= 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 in mol %) following the melt quenching technique. With the addition of Yb{sup 3+} ions into Er{sup 3+} ions in the prepared glasses, the absorption cross-section values were found to increase due to the effective energy transfer from {sup 2}F{sub 5/2} level of Yb{sup 3+} ions to the {sup 4}I{sub 11/2} level of Er{sup 3+} ions. The fluorescence around 1550 nm correspond to the {sup 4}I{sub 13/2}→{sup 4}I{sub 15/2} transition was observed under 980 nm pumping. Among the present glasses, integrated intensity was found to be higher for 1.0 mol% Yb{sup 3+} ion glass. The parameters such as stimulated emission cross- section, Gain bandwidth and quantum efficiency of the {sup 4}I{sub 13/2}→{sup 4}I{sub 15/2} transition was found to be higher for the NTBE1.0Y glass and the same is suggested for potential NIR lasers and optical amplifier applications.