Frequency upconversion in Er3+/Yb3+-codoped chalcogenide glass

Abstract

Frequency upconversion of cw infrared radiation at 1.06 μm into the visible in Er3+/Yb3+-codoped Ga2S3:La2O3 chalcogenide glass samples is presented. Intense green and red emission bands around 530, 555, and 670 nm, respectively, are observed in addition to near-infrared 830 and 925 nm less intense signals. Energy transfer processes and nonradiative phonon-assisted decays account for the population of the H211/2, S43/2, and F49/2 emitting levels. The dependence of the red emission with the Yb3+ concentration is also analyzed. The potential application of the Er/Yb-codoped Ga2S3:La2O3 glass for upconversion based optical devices is discussed.