Spectroscopic properties, concentration quenching, and laser investigations of Yb^3+-doped calcium aluminosilicate glasses

Abstract

“Calcium aluminosilicate” (CAS) and “low silica calcium aluminosilicate” (LSCAS) OH− free glasses have demonstrated a good potential for solid-state laser media and luminophore hosts due to good thermal, optical, and mechanical properties. Some examples have already been shown with Nd3+, Er3+, Ce3+, and Ti3+ luminescent ions. In this work, Yb3+ rare-earth laser ions have been introduced into the two series of CAS and LSCAS glasses melted at 1600 °C in a vacuum furnace and have been optically characterized and compared. Special attention has been devoted to both structural characterization in relationship with spectroscopic properties and concentration quenching phenomenon in relationship with laser parameters. Laser measurements at 1037 nm have been successfully performed under laser diode pumping.