Weak clustering and self-quenching in a fluorophosphate glass doped by Yb3+ and Er3+ organic precursors

The basic limitation for Er-doped glass waveguide development is due to clustering of active ions providing part of the observed self-quenching. We introduce rare-earth-doping by an organic precursor, Er(btfa)(3)bipy, with large Er-Er distances instead of those usually found in Er2O3 This is shown to allow some reduction of the ion clustering even in multicomponent glasses as demonstrated by the co-operative luminescence signature of Yb3+ used as a probe. Correlatively, self-quenching of the 1.5 mu m transition of Er3+ is found to be reduced. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.