1.6 μm emission from Pr3+:(3F3,3F4)→3H4 transition in Pr3+- and Pr3+/Er3+-doped selenide glasses

1.6 mum emission originated from Pr3+: (F-3(3),F-3(4))--> H-3(4) transition in Pr3+- and Pr3+/Er3+-doped selenide glasses were investigated under an optical pump of a conventional 1480 nm laser diode. The measured peak wavelength and full width at half maximum of the fluorescent emission were similar to 1650 and > 100 nm, respectively. A moderate lifetime of the thermally coupled upper manifolds (similar to 212 +/-5 mus) together with a high stimulated emission cross section of similar to (3 +/-1)x10(-20) cm(2) promises to be useful for 1.6 mum band fiber-optic amplifier that can be pumped with an existing high-power laser diode. Codoping of Er3+ significantly enhanced the emission intensity by way of a nonradiative Er3+: I-4(13/2)--> Pr3+: (F-3(3),F-3(4)) energy transfer. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.