Structural and spectroscopic properties of Yb3+ doped borophosphate glasses for IR laser application

Ytterbium (Yb3+) doped borophosphate (BPYb) glasses have been prepared and studied by means of their physical, optical, structural and spectroscopic properties aiming laser performance parameters. The main structural groups, PO32-, P2O74- and BO4 of the borophosphates were analyzed through their FTIR-ATR and Raman spectra. A linear increment of the absorption coefficient and of the integrated emission intensity were observed with increase of Yb3+ ions. The absorption and emission cross-sections have been evaluated and reported. Decay lifetimes were found to decrease with the increase of Yb3+ ions. The evaluated laser performance parameters (I-sat and I-min), figure of merit and cross-sections (absorption and emission) suggest that 0.5 mol% of Yb3+ doped borophosphate glass is the most appropriate candidate for solid state infrared (IR) laser applications.