FLUORIDE PHOSPHATE AND PHOSPHATE GLASSES FOR PHOTONICS

Abstract

Phosphate (P) and fluoride phosphate (FP) glasses are attractive materials for a wide range of photonic applications such as lasers, amplifiers, photosensitivity, optical storage and Faraday rotators. They demonstrate high UV transmission, low linear and nonlinear refractive index, low viscosity and low melting temperatures, athermal behaviour. In addition, they are excellent host materials for active rare earth (RE) ions due to advantageous local structure effect and high RE ion solubility. The paper reviews the benefit of FP and P glass properties for different photonic applications. Base glass properties, local structure and its effect on RE ion properties are described for FP and P glasses studied by the author. The potential of the glasses for laser, amplifier and photosensitivity-based devices are demonstrated.