Electronic absorption spectra and energy gap studies of Er3+ ions in different chlorophosphate glasses

Spectroscopic properties of Er3+ ions in different chlorophosphate glasses 50P2O5-30Na2HPO4-19.8RCl (R = Li, Na, K, Ca and Pb) are studied. The direct and indirect optical band gaps (Eopt) and the various spectroscopic parameters (E1, E2, E3, and zeta4f and alpha) are reported. The oscillator strengths of the transitions in the absorption spectrum are parameterized in terms of three Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (omega2, omega4 and omega6). These intensity parameters are used to predict the transition probabilities (A), radiative lifetimes (tauR), branching ratios (beta) and integrated cross sections (sigma) for stimulated emission. Attention has been paid to the trend of the intensity parameters over hypersensitive transitions and optical band gaps. The lifetimes and branching ratios of certain transitions are compared with other glass matrices.