The optical absorption and temperature dependence of photoluminescence (PL) in the temperature range of 10 to 300 K have been measured for Er3+-doped lead silicate glass. A strong PL band that originates from S-4(13/2)-->I-4(15/2) transition centered at 562 nm was observed even at room temperature. A very weak temperature quenching compared with that of Er3+ in crystal Si and the peak wavelength remaining constant with temperature are the main characteristics of this PL emission band. They are explained by the competition of thermal population effect and multiphonon relaxation between the S-4(3/2) and H-2(11/2) levels of Er3+. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.