Spectroscopic properties of lead fluoroborate glasses doped with ytterbium

A new lead fluoroborate glass (PbO-PbF2-B2O3) doped with ytterbium (Yb:PbFB ) is presented. Samples with different concentrations of Yb3+ were produced and had their emission cross-sections, fluorescence lifetimes and minimum pump intensities determined. They have high refractive index of 2.2 and a d ensity of 4.4 g/cm(3). For a doping level of 1.153x10(20) ions/cm(3), the f luorescence lifetime, after excitation at 968 nm, is 0.81 ms, which is comp arable to Yb:tellurite laser glass. Also, an emission band at 1022 nm is me asured with emission cross-section of approximately 1.07x10(-20) cm(2) and fluorescence effective linewidth of 60 nm, which is comparable to Yb:phosph ate laser glass. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.