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 °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 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3+ ion upon 980 nm diode laser excitation. The larger emission cross-section of 2.15 × 10−20 cm2 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.