PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3-BaO-Dy3+ glasses for IR luminescence

Infrared luminescence from Dy3+ ions embedded in PbO Bi2O3-Ga2O3-BaO glass hosts is reported for room and helium liquid temperatures. The substantial influence of energy transfer processes between the glass host and Dy3+ ions is shown experimentally through the dependences of photoluminescence on light polarization and excitation wavelength. Only polarized excited pulsed YAG-Nd laser light (lambda = 714 nm) gives substantial IR luminescence with efficiency up to 41%. The role of the phonon-relaxation subsystem in the observed luminescence is discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.