Specific Absorption Coefficient of Cr3+ Ions in (TeO2)0.70(ZnO)0.30 Glass

-(TeO2)(0.70)(ZnO)(0.30) tellurite glasses doped with Cr3+ ions in the concentration range 80 to 2500ppm have been prepared via melt solidification using orthotelluric acid and zinc nitrate, and their optical transmission has been measured in the wavelength range 0.3 to 2.7 mu m. Transmission spectra of the glasses have been shown to contain two strong absorption bands, peaking at 460 and 650 nm. Using a series of glasses differing in chromium content, we have evaluated the spectral dependence of the specific absorption coefficient for the glasses, which has been shown to be 142 +/- 2 cm(-1)/wt % at the maximum of the 650-nm absorption band.