Spectroscopic characterization of $\hbox {Er}^{3+}$ doped lead zinc phosphate glass via Judd–Ofelt analysis

Abstract

Lead zinc phosphate (LZP) glass doped with 0.6% $\hbox {Er}^{3+}$ is prepared by a conventional melt quenching technique. Judd–Ofelt (JO) analysis is carried out with an absorption spectrum of the as-prepared glass generating the set of JO parameters: $\varOmega _2 =2.75\times 10^{-20}\, \hbox {cm}^{-2}$, $\varOmega _4 =2.71\times 10^{-20}\, \hbox {cm}^{-2}$ and $\varOmega _6 =0.44\times 10^{-20}\, \hbox {cm}^{-2}$. The magnitude of the spectroscopic quality factor $(\chi _{\mathrm{p}} )$ defined by $\varOmega _4 /\varOmega _6$ obtained in our sample turns out to be 6.16 which is 2–10 times larger than that of other $\hbox {Er}^{3+}$ doped glasses. The lifetime of $^{4}\hbox {I}_{13/2}$ and $^{4}\hbox {I}_{11/2}$ levels estimated via the JO parameters is found to provide superior values of 7.25 and 5.51 ms, respectively. The elevated value of $\varOmega _4 /\varOmega _6$ along with the estimated 100% luminescence branching ratio of $^{4}\hbox {I}_{13/2} \rightarrow ^{4}\hbox {I}_{15/2}$ transition implies that $\hbox {Er}^{3+}$ doped LZP can be a promising material as a laser active medium.