Spectroscopy of Pr3+-doped low-phonon-energy glasses based on halides and sulfides

摘要

Abstract: The optical properties of praseodymium-doped glasseshave attracted considerable attention recently fortheir potential application as a 1.3 micron opticalamplifier. We report here on our spectroscopicevaluation of a series of low-phonon-energy glassesbased on halides and sulphides. These results, thoughdriven by the desire for a practical amplifier, provideinsight into the application of these glasses not onlyfor telecommunications applications, but also anunderstanding of the overall optical properties of alow-phonon-energy glass. Using Raman spectroscopy, thevibrational characteristics of the glass host aredetermined. Absorption measurements across the visibleand infrared allow evaluation of the intrinsic loss ofthese glasses when in fiber form, as well as providingan indication of glass purity. Fluorescence ofPr$+3$PLU$/-doped glasses, through excitation of the$+3$/P$-0$/, $+1$/D$-2$/ and $+1$/G$-4$/ levels, ismeasured along with the fluorescence lifetimes. Theseradiative properties are compared to those predicted bya Judd-Ofelt analysis, which has been performed on allglasses. In this way, this work provides an overallspectroscopic evaluation of the optical properties oflow-phonon-energy glasses, leading the way towards apractical device. !46