Spectroscopic properties of Yb~(3+)-doped TeO_2–BaO–BaF_2–Nb_2O_5-based oxyfluoride tellurite glasses

A series of oxyfluoride glasses with the compositions of 75 mol% TeO2, 10 mol% Nb2O5,(15 mol%-x) BaO, x BaF2(x = 0 mol%, 5 mol%, 10 mol%, 15 mol%) doped with Yb2O3 were prepared by the melt-quenching method. Their emission cross-sections, fluorescence lifetimes, and gain properties were investigated by using the absorption spectra and the fluorescence decay curves. The results show that by substituting BaF2 for BaO, the emission cross-section decreases from 1.37 pm2 to 1.21 pm2, and the fluorescence lifetime increases from 0.71 ms to 0.96 ms. These properties indicate that this oxyfluoride tellurite glass may have potential uses as the Yb2O3-doped gain medium in a solid laser.