Praseodymium mid-infrared emission in AlF<sub>3</sub>-based glass sensitized by ytterbium
Jiquan Zhang, Mo Liu, Yu Jin, Ruicong Wang, Shijie Jia, Zijun Liu, Gerald Farrell, Shunbin Wang, Pengfei Wang
Abstract
Broadband emission was obtained over 2.6 to 4.1 μm (Pr 3+ : 1 G 4 → 3 F 4 , 3 F 3 ) in AlF 3 -based glass samples doped with different concentrations of praseodymium and 1 mol% ytterbium using a 976 nm laser pump. An efficient energy transfer process from Yb 3+ : 2 F 5/2 to Pr 3+ : 1 G 4 was analyzed through emission spectra and fluorescence lifetime values. The absorption and emission cross-sections were calculated by Füchtbauer-Ladenburg and McCumber theories and a positive gain can be obtained when P>0.3. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work represents the first report of broadband mid-infrared emission of Pr 3+ in an AlF 3 -based glass. The results show that praseodymium doped AlF 3 -based glass sensitized by ytterbium could be a promising candidate for fiber lasers operating in mid-infrared region.