Broad band excitation of RE3+ ions doped into tellurite and antimonite glasses

Abstract

Ternary TeO2-ZnO-TiO2 glasses doped with thulium (Tm) and antimonite glasses Sb2O3-PbO-ZnO/ZnS doped with ErCl3 were prepared by using melt quenching method and investigated by means of transmission, and room and low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. For PL excitation we used 514.5 and/or 532 nm lines, i.e. the wavelengths capable to excite the electronic structure of both studied host glass systems but not in resonance with 4f levels of Tm3+ ions. We were able to observe simultaneously the broad-band luminescence of the host glass and the narrow features due to 4f-4f transitions in RE3+ ions. Special attention was given to the wavelengths range where the broad-band luminescence of the host glass overlaps with 4f-4f transitions within RE3+ ions.