DY3+ DOPED GE-GA-SB-SE GLASSES AND OPTICAL FIBERS FOR THE MID-IR GAIN MEDIA

Abstract

Dy3+-doped selenide glasses and their optical fibers in the Ge-Ga-Sb-Se glass-forming system were fabricated and their mid infrared (MIR) emission (2.5-5 mu m) characteristics were analyzed. Optimum concentration for 3 pm emission band was determined as 0.02 mol% due to cross relaxation between Dy3+ ions. Sensitizers such as Pr3+, Ho3+, Tb3+ or Tm3+ ions were co-doped to improve MIR emissions front Dy3+.Pr3+ provided the highest emission intensity of Dy3+:H-6(13/2)-> H-6(15/2) but suffered from the efficient energy transfer between two ions involved. Tm3+ showed further enhancement due to its co-excitation wavelength of 1.8 mu m. (C)2008 The Ceramic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.