FLUORESCENCE MECHANISMS OF Tm³⁺- AND Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ DOPED AlF₃-BASED FLUORIDE GLASS

A complete set of spectroscopic parameters, including Judd-Ofelt parameters, radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetime, branching ratios and integrated absorption cross section, have been calculated for Tm³⁺- doped fluoroaluminate (AYF) glass, based on the measured absorption spectra. The mechanism of Tm³⁺→Tm³⁺ and Yb³⁺ \Leftrightarrow Tm³⁺ energy transfers and fluorescence properties have been investigated in both Tm³⁺ single-doped and Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ double-doped AYF glasses. The cross-relaxation process, ³F₄+³H₆→2³H₄, is proved, which makes the optimum Tm³⁺ concentration of 1.77μm fluorescence (³H₄→³H₆) much higher than 1.45μm fluorescence (³F₄→³H₄) in Tm³⁺:AYF glasses. In Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺:AYF glasses, a stronger concentration quenching is found for the 476nm emission than that for the 797nm emission, and is discussed under the 970nm-excitation.