PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3-BaO glasses doped by Er3+ as novel materials for IR emission

lnfra-red luminescence (at wavelengths about 1600 and 2500 nm) from Er3+ io ns embedded in PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3-BaO glass hosts is reported for room and hel ium liquid temperatures. The substantial influence of energy transfer proce sses between the host and Er3+ ions is shown experimentally through the dep endences of photo luminescence on light polarization and excitation wavelen gth. Only the application of the polarized pumping YAG-Nd laser beam (lambd a = 1060 nm) stimulates substantial luminescence with quantum efficiency up to 24%. The role of phonon-relaxation subsystem in the observed luminescen ce is discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.