Influence of SiO2 on the Stark splitting and spectroscopic properties of Yb3+ in phosphate glass

This study focuses on the Stark splitting, spectroscopic properties and lasing performance parameters of Yb3+ in conventional phosphate glass modified by SiO2. Introducing silica into phosphate glass is an effective method to increase the maximum Stark splitting energy of F-2(7/2) (E-d). The E-d in phosphate glass with 25 mol% silica was enhanced by 203 cm(-1). Interestingly, phosphate glass with 5 mol% silica offers small coefficients of thermal expansion, most obvious Stark splitting improvement, higher stimulated emission cross-section, longer lifetime and the largest SFL, which may ascribed to the formation of Si-(6). From the point of the comprehensive performance of the material, it suggests that the introduction of small amount of SiO2 is better for Yb3+ doped phosphate glass. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.