Visible and near infra-red up-conversion in Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped silica fibers under 980 nm excitation

• Published in: Optics express Vol. 16; no. 18; pp. 13781 - 13799
• Main Authors: Simpson, D A, Gibbs, W E, Collins, S F, Blanc, W, Dussardier, B, Monnom, G, Peterka, P, Baxter, G W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Optical Society of America - OSA Publishing 01-09-2008
• Subjects: Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Fiber Optic Technology - instrumentation; Infrared Rays; Lasers; Luminescent Measurements - instrumentation; Materials Testing; Optics; Physics; Thulium - chemistry; Ytterbium - chemistry
• ISSN: 1094-4087; 1094-4087
• DOI: 10.1364/OE.16.013781

The spectroscopic properties of Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped silica fibers under excitation at 980 nm are reported. Three distinct up-conversion fluorescence bands were observed in the visible to near infra-red regions. The blue and red fluorescence bands at 475 and 650 nm, respectively, were found to originate from the (1)G(4) level of Tm(3+). A three step up-conversion process was established as the populating mechanism for these fluorescence bands. The fluorescence band at 800 nm was found to originate from two possible transitions in Tm(3+); one being the transition from the (3)H(4) to (3)H(6) manifold which was found to dominate at low pump powers; the other being the transition from the (1)G(4) to (3)H(6) level which dominates at higher pump powers. The fluorescence lifetime of the (3)H(4) and (3)F(4) levels of Tm(3+) and (2)F(5/2) level of Yb(3+) were studied as a function of Yb(3+) concentration, with no significant energy back transfer from Tm(3+) to Yb(3+) observed.