Intense near-infrared emission of 1.23 μm in erbium-doped low-phonon-energy fluorotellurite glass.

Intense near-infrared emission located at 1.23 μm wavelength originating from the erbium (Er(3+)):(4)S3/2→(4)I11/2 transition is observed in Er(3+)-doped fluorotellurite glasses. This emission is mainly contributed by the relatively low phonon energy of the fluorotellurite glass host (~776 cm(-1)). Judd-Ofelt analysis indicates a strong asymmetry and covalent environment between Er(3+) ions and ligands in the host matrix. The emission cross-section was calculated to be 2.85×10(-21) cm(2) by the Füchtbauer-Ladenburg equation, and the population inversion is realized according to a simplified evaluation. The results suggest that the fluorotellurite glass system could be a promising candidate for the development of optical amplifiers and lasers operating at the relatively unexplored 1.2 μm wavelength region.