Optical and spectroscopic characterization of Er3+–Yb3+co-doped tellurite glasses and fibers

Abstract Optical and spectroscopic properties of Er 3+ –Yb 3+ co-doped TeO 2 –WO 3 –Nb 2 O 5 –Na 2 O–Al 2 O 3 glasses and fibers were investigated. Emission spectra and fluorescence lifetimes of 4 I 13/2 level of Er 3+ ion as a function of rare earth concentration and fiber length were measured in glasses. Results show that the self-absorption effect broadens the spectral bandwidth of 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 transition and lengthens the lifetime significantly from 3.5 to 4.6 ms. Fibers were fabricated by the rod-in-tube technique using a Heathway drawing tower. The emission power of these Er 3+ –Yb 3+ co-doped Step Index Tellurite Fibers (SITFs; lengths varying from 2 to 60 cm) were generated by a 980 nm diode laser pump and then the emission power spectra were acquired with an OSA. The maximum emission power spectra, within the 1530–1560 nm region, were observed for fiber lengths ranging from 3 to 6 cm. The highest bandwidth obtained was 108 nm for 8 cm fiber length around 1.53 µm.