Oxyfluoride tellurite glasses doped by erbium: thermal analysis, structural organization and spectral properties

The effects of fluorine substitution in zinc tellurite glass system doped with rare earths on the spectral properties of the Er3+ ions are investigated. Differential thermal analysis, vibrational spectroscopies studies and in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction measurements have been considered in term of fluorine influence. As a function of composition, we have principally measured optical absorption, spontaneous emission, and lifetime measurements. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters of Er3+ in these host glasses were determined and used to calculate radiative transition rates and lifetimes. The bulk composition variation and addition Of fluoride compounds in tellurite glasses result among others, in broad emission spectra, improved emission lifetime and difference in relative band intensities compared to pure oxide glass. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.