Optical properties and local structures of Tm3+ ions in F co-doped lead-germanate glasses

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Description/Abstract

Rare-earth doped optical fibres have received considerable attention in recent years due to the enhanced performance that optically pumped fibre devices Carl give over bulk glass devices. For many years, however, fabrication of low loss rare-earth doped fibres has been confined to silica-related glasses (lately fluoride-based ZBLAN glass fibres have become available, but their weak mechanical strength and poor chemical durability are problematic in practice). This has caused considerable problem in developing future important fibre devices such as 1.3µm optical amplifiers and long or short wavelength fibre lasers. It is thus absolutely essential that the range of rare-earth doped glasses that can be made into fibre structures is extended, particularly into lower phonon-energy glasses, combining possibly the best properties of both silica (low-loss, high strength etc.) and fluoride-based glasses (low non-radiative relaxation rate, etc.)