Abstract
In this paper, a new tellurite glass (85TeO2·5.0Nb2O5·5.0ZnO·5.0LiF) doped with 1mol% Tm2O3 was prepared by melt-quenching technique. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements indicate a good thermal stability, X-ray diffraction patterns show no sign of crystallization. Precise refractive index measurements were performed on five different wavelengths by a prism spectrometer. The optical energy gap, the Sellmeier energy gap and the dispersion energy were estimated. Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters were evaluated in order to obtain electric and magnetic-dipole transition probabilities, branching ratios and radiative lifetimes of several excited states of Tm3+. The classical McCumber theory was used to evaluate the emission cross-sections for the 3F4→3H6 transition at a wavelength of around 1.8µm. The characteristics of down-conversion luminescence in the visible range were studied by exciting Tm3+ ions into the 1G4 level. Furthermore the structure of this glass was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy.
•A new thermally stable tellurite glass (TNZL doped 1mol% Tm3+) was synthesized by a melt-quenching method.•A complete Judd–Ofelt spectroscopic evaluation of the TNZL:Tm glass is presented.•A high gain coefficient and emission cross section are obtained for Tm3+ in TNZL glass in the 1.8μm region.•The TNZL:Tm glass would be a potential laser operation around 1.8μm emission.•TNZL:Tm is a good candidate for generate a blue light for color display devices and light emitting diodes.