High emission cross-section Er3+-doped fluorophosphate glasses for active device application

The fluorophosphate (FP) glasses modified with different concentrations of Mg(PO3)(2) and ErF3, were synthesized by simple melt-quenching technique. The effect of Mg(PO3)(2) addition on structural and spectroscopic properties of the Er3+-doped FP glasses were explored. The glass stability factor was determined from thermal analysis that showed that the prepared glasses possessed greater stability above > 100 degrees C. The Raman analysis was carried out in order to know the vibrational groups in the fabricated glasses. In order to study the local structure and covalency between Er3+ ions and ligand environment, the Judd-Ofelt parameters were derived by Judd-Ofelt theory from the absorption spectra of Er3+-doped FP glasses. The emission spectra showed an intense and broadband at 1532 nm originating from I-4(13/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition of Er3+ ion upon 980 nm diode laser excitation. The larger emission cross-section of 2.15 x 10(-20) cm(2) and an extensive lifetime of 12.50 ms, respectively, were noticed for 3 mol% ErF3 and 40 mol% Mg(PO3)(2) based FP glass. Considering those results, studied Er3+-doped FP glasses have a feasibility to be used as active media for solid-state lasers and optical amplifiers at 1532 nm.