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 Tm^{3+- 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→33H₄) 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.}