Ho3+/Tm3+ codoped lead silicate glass for 2 μm laser materials

Abstract The mid-infrared emission of low phonon (963 cm −1 ) lead silicate glass system with Ho 3+ /Tm 3+ co-doped has been investigated. Luminescence at ∼2.1 μm corresponding to 5 I 7  →  5 I 8 transition in holmium was obtained by energy transfer between Tm 3+ and Ho 3+ ions. Energy transfer mechanism between them was analyzed. And the highest value of the luminescence intensity was obtained in glass co-doped with 1Tm 2 O 3 /0.3Ho 2 O 3 . The full width at half maximum of the (Ho 3+ /Tm 3+ ) emission reached to 350 nm in 1Tm 2 O 3 /0.1Ho 2 O 3 sample. Absorption and emission cross section have also been calculated and analyzed. The maximum emission cross section was 3.9 × 10 −21  cm 2 around 2.0 μm. And when P > 0.4, a positive gain can be obtained at wavelengths >1941 nm. Results demonstrated that the prepared Ho 3+ /Tm 3+ co-doped lead silicate glasses have excellent spectroscopic properties in mid-infrared wavelengths and can obtain high gain in fiber lasers.