Lasing properties of Pr3+-doped tellurofluorophosphate glasses

Spectroscopic and laser properties of Pr3+ ions incorporated into tellurofluorophosphate (TFP) glasses have been investigated from the absorption and emission spectra recorded in the UV-VIS-NIR regions. The intensities of the 4f-4f induced electric dipole transitions are parametrized in terms of Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Omega(lambda) (lambda = 2, 4, 6) from the experimentally determined oscillator strengths. Various spectroscopic parameters such as electric dipole linestrengths (S-ed), magnetic dipole linestrengths (S-md), radiative transition probabilities (A(R)), radiative lifetimes (tau(R)), branching ratios (beta(R)) and integrated absorption cross-sections (a,) for stimulated emission were evaluated for various excited levels of Pr3+ ions. The effect of compositional changes of the glasses on the optical properties of Pr3+ ions has been discussed. These calculated intensity parameters (Omega(lambda)) and radiative lifetimes (tau(R)) are compared with other Pr3+ doped host materials. From the magnitudes of the stimulated emission cross-sections (sigma(e)), branching ratios OR), the most potential laser transitions are identified and utility of these glasses as laser active materials is discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.