Crystallization behaviour of cadmium mixed-halide glasses

Cadmium mixed halide glasses have been recently identified as a potential low-phonon energy host for 1.3µm Pr3+-doped optical fibre amplifier. We report the crystallization behaviour of the mixed halide glasses while reheated above their glass transition temperature. The effect of impurities in the starting raw materials on the quality of the bulk glass is reported. The OH- absorption was monitored by FTIR technique, and related to the lifetime of the 1G4 excited state in Pr3+-doped glass. The thermal stability of the glass was studied from heat treatment data using a differential scanning calorimeter.