Special pure Pr(3+) doped Ga3Ge31As18Se48 glass for active mid-IR optics

Abstract Special pure 1300 ppmw Pr(3+)-doped Ga 3 Ge 31 As 18 Se 48 glass is prepared; its microstructure, impurity content, thermal, crystallization, optical and photo-luminescent properties are investigated. The glass microstructure, according to Raman scattering spectroscopy data, consists mainly of Ge(Se 1/2 ) 4 , As 4 Se 3 and (Se 3/2 )Ge–Ge(Se 3/2 ) structural units. The glass has a low content of residual impurities, a wide transmission range (0.9–16 µm), a high glass transition temperature (356 °C), and a low tendency to crystallization. When pumping laser radiation at a wavelength of 1.56 µm, the studied glass shows intense photoluminescence in the spectral regions 2.1–3.2 µm and 3.5–6 µm. The measured emission lifetime at 4.5–5 µm wavelengths was 12.5 ms. The obtained Pr(3+)-doped chalcogenide glass is promising for fabrication of active mid-IR optical fibers.