Quantitative characterization on multichannel transition emissions originating from 3P0 and 1D2 levels of Pr3+ in fluorotellurite glasses

Multichannel transition emissions in Pr3+-doped fluorotellurite (4BaF(2)-4AlF(3)-16BaO-6La(2)O(3)-70TeO(2), BABLT) glasses have been quantitatively characterized. Broadband similar to 1.48 mu m near-infrared (NIR) emission due to D-1(2) -> (1)G(4) transition covering a 1.28-1.68 mu m wavelength region possesses a full-width at half-maximum of 120 nm, along with the spontaneous emission probability (A(ij)) and maximum stimulated emission cross-section (sigma(em)) are calculated to be 693 s(-1) and 8.97 x 10(-21) cm(2), respectively. Intense visible fluorescence originating from P-3(0) and D-1(2) levels has been observed and the radiant flux for the visible fluorescence of Pr3+ is solved to be 299 mu W under commercial blue LED excitation. Quantitative characterization reveals that Pr3+-doped BABLT glasses exhibit a quantum yield (QY) as high as 14.9%, which is 3.1% higher than that in Pr3+-doped heavy metal germanium tellurite glasses. High QY and broadband similar to 1.48 mu m emission illustrate great advantages of Pr3+-doped BABLT glasses as fibre luminescence sources in photodynamic therapy treatment and gain media for tunable lasers and NIR optical amplifiers.