Blue and green upconversion in Er(3+)-doped fluoroindate glasses

Abstract

The upconversion properties of Er3+ in fluoroindate bulk glasses (composition: 40InF3-20ZnF2-16BaF2-(20-x)SrF2-2GaF3-2NaF-xErF3 with x=1,2,3 and 4 mole %) are investigated, following F-4(9/2) excitation with a red krypton laser. A strong green and a weaker blue luminescence is observed at room temperature corresponding to emissions from the thermally coupled S-4(3/2) and H-2(11/2) bands and the H-2(9/2) level respectively. Resonant energy transfer processes involving two excited erbium ions and a two-step absorption process are proposed to explain the upconversion phenomena. The emission intensities depend on the excitation power as P(exc)n with 1.5 less-than-or-equal-to n less-than-or-equal-to 1.7 for the green and 1.6 less-than-or-equal-to n less-than-or-equal-to 1.9 for the blue emission. The decay times and the relative intensities of the luminescences are also studied as a function of Er3+ concentration.