Experimental photoluminescence and lifetimes at wavelengths including beyond 7 microns in Sm-doped selenide-chalcogenide glass fibers.

1000 ppmw Sm-doped GeSbSeGa atomic % chalcogenide bulk glass and unstructured fiber are prepared. Near- and mid-infrared absorption spectra of the bulk glass reveal Sm electronic absorption bands, and extrinsic vibrational absorption bands, due to host impurities. Fiber photoluminescence, centred at 3.75 µm and 7.25 µm, is measured when pumping at either 1300 or 1470 nm. Pumping at 1470 nm enables the photoluminescent lifetime at 7.3 µm to be measured for the first time which was ∼100 µs. This is the longest to date, experimentally observed lifetime in the 6.5-9 µm wavelength-range of a lanthanide-doped chalcogenide glass fiber.