Stark level analysis for Er3+-doped ZBLAN glass

From the absorption and emission spectra recorded in a conventional way at 13 K, the Stark levels in manifolds from I-4(15/2) to (2)Hy(9/2) for Er3+-doped ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF) glass have been investigated by means of the effective crystal field model previously proposed to describe the average of local symmetries occupied by rare earth ions in oxide glasses [1]. This model, based on the principle of descending symmetry, used the symmetry group chain scheme. Crystal field strength, homogeneous and inhomogeneous widths of levels have been determined, and the former models and results about optical properties for rare earth ions in heavy metal fluoride glasses are discussed. In fluoride glasses, the rare earth ions appear more evenly distributed than in oxide glasses, and the crystal field strength is weaker than in oxide glasses. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.