Effects of Ce3+ ions on the spectroscopic properties of fluorophosphate glasses codoped with Er3+/Yb3+

This paper reports on the influence of energy acceptors Ce3+ ions on the upconversion and 1.5 mu m emission properties of fluorophosphate glasses codoped with Er-3 /Yb3+. The energy transfer mechanism has been discussed based on the energy matching and the energy level. The Ce3+ ions are excited from the F-2(5/2) level to the F-2(7/2) level due to the non-radiatively energy transfer process of the Er3+ ions from the I-4(11/2) level to the I-4(13/2) level. The upconversion luminescence intensities of the E3+ are decreased quite significantly owing to this energy transfer process. Meanwhile, the luminescence intensities, peak stimulated emission cross sections, and lifetimes of the I-4(13/2) level of E3+/Yb3+ -codoped fluorophosphate glasses increase largely with the introduction of the Ce3+ ions at the proper concentration of 1. 11 x 10(23) cm(-3).