Optical properties of Yb3+ ions in fluorophosphate glasses for 1.0 μm solid-state infrared lasers

Yb3+-doped fluorophosphate glasses were prepared by melt-quenching technique and characterized their spectroscopic properties to assess the laser performance parameters. The magnitude of absorption (emission) cross-sections at 975 nm for all the studied Yb3+-doped glasses is found to be in the range of 0.29-1.50 x 10(-20) (0.59-1.99 x 10(-20) cm(2)) which is much higher than those of commercial Kigre QX/Yb: 1.06 x 10(-20) (0.5 x 10(-20) cm(2)) laser glass. The luminescence lifetimes of F-2(5/2) level decrease (1.15-0.45 ms) with increase in Yb2O3 concentration (0.1-4.0 mol%). Effect of OH- content on luminescence properties of Yb3+ ions has also been investigated. The effect of radiative trapping has been discussed by using McCumber (McC) and Fuchtbauer-Ladenburge (F-L) methods. The product of experimental lifetimes and emission cross-sections for 0.1 mol% Yb2O3-doped glass is found to be 2.28 x 10(-20) cm(2) ms which indicates that the higher energy storage and extraction capability could be possible. The detailed spectroscopic results suggest that the studied glasses can be considered for high-power and ultrashort pulse laser applications.