Optical properties of a transparent CaF2:Er3+ fluoropolymer nanocomposite -: art. no. 241105

We report the observation of Er3+ fluorescence in an optically transparent CaF2:Er3+ perfluorocyclobutyl-based fluoropolymer composite. Under 980 nm excitation, fluorescence was observed at 1560 nm with a bandwidth of 93 nm. A quantitative analysis of the radiative properties yielded a radiative quantum efficiency of 29% corresponding to a measured lifetime of 4 ms and theoretical radiative decay time of 13.8 ms. Further, the estimated stimulated emission cross section was calculated to be 3x10(-20) cm(2), and the maximum optical gain from the composite was estimated to be 1.78 dB/cm with a pump threshold of 1.1 mW. This estimate demonstrates that it is possible to use polymer nanocomposites for active optical devices. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.