Photoluminescence from Pr3+-doped chalcogenide glasses excited by bandgap light

Mechanisms of bandgap-excited photoluminescence in Pr3+-doped chalcogenide glasses have been studied by examination of composition and temperature dependences, responses to optical pulses, and light-soaking effects. Marked photoluminescence from the Pr3+ ions at 1.6 mu m is observed only in selenide glasses. The temperature dependence and pulsed response are different from those of the host-glass photoluminescence at 1.3 mu m. Under prolonged illumination, at room temperature, photodarkening appears with reduction of the Pr3+ photoluminescence. These observations are discussed on the basis of a model proposed for bandgap-excited photoluminescence in rare-earth-ion doped chalcogenide glasses. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.