Optical absorption and fluorescence properties of Dy3+: SFB glasses

Abstract

This paper presents the preparation and spectroscopic characterization of Dy3+-doped sodium fluoroborate (SFB) glasses of the type (50-x) B2O3 + 25 Na2O + 10 CaF2 + 10 AlF3 + 5 LaF3 + x DyF3 (x = 0.01, 0.1, 0.5,1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mol%). By measuring the area under absorption bands, the experimental oscillator strengths are determined. The Judd-Ofelt (J-O) intensity parameters Ωλ (λ = 2, 4, 6) are evaluated by the least square fit method. These phenomenological parameters are used to predict luminescence properties of the lanthanide ions in SFB glasses. Photoluminescence spectra and lifetimes of 4F9/2 level of Dy3+ ions in these glasses have been measured by exciting with 348 nm line of xenon flash lamp. The measured decay curves exhibit single exponential at lower concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mol% and non-exponential at higher concentrations of 2.0 and 4.0 mol%. The predicted τR and (βR values of 4F9/2 transition are compared with the experimentally measured values. From the magnitude of stimulated emission cross sections (σe), branching ratios (βm), multiphonon relaxation rates (WMP), the most potential laser transitions are identified and the utility of these glasses as laser active material is discussed. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.