Mid-infrared 2.7 μm emission properties of Er3 + sensitized by Nd3 + in fluorotellurite glasses

Abstract Er 3 + singly doped and Er 3 + /Nd 3 + -codoped fluorotellurite glasses are prepared by melt-quenching method. The Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω λ ,λ = 2, 4, and 6), radiative transition rate (A rad ), and radiative lifetime (τ R ) of Er 3 + are calculated based on the absorption spectra. The 2.7 μm emission spectra of Er 3 + ions in fluorotellurite glasses are investigated under 808 nm excitation. The enhancement of Er 3 + 2.7 μm emission shows that Nd 3 + can be an effective sensitizer for Er 3 + : 4 I 11/2  →  4 I 13/2 transition, and the energy transfer efficiency can be as large as 84%. The absorption and emission cross sections are calculated using Fuchtbauer–Ladenburg equation and McCumber theory with large values of 1.62 × 10 − 20  cm 2 and 1.11 × 10 − 20  cm 2 , respectively. The results suggest that the present glasses have potential applications in 2.7 μm laser materials.