Surface-plasmon-enhanced frequency upconversion in Pr3+ doped tellurium-oxide glasses containing silver nanoparticles

A frequency upconversion process in Pr3+ doped TeO2–ZnO glasses containing silver nanoparticles is studied under excitation with a nanosecond laser operating at 590 nm, in resonance with the H34→D12 transition. The excited Pr3+ ions exchange energy in the presence of the nanoparticles, originating efficient conversion from orange to blue. The enhancement in the intensity of the luminescence at ∼482 nm, corresponding to the P30→H34 transition, is due to the influence of the large local field on the Pr3+ ions, which are located near the metallic nanoparticles.