Spectroscopic Properties of Inorganic Glasses Doped with Pr: A Comparative Study.

The results presented in this communication concern visible and near-IR emission of Pr ions in selected inorganic glasses, i.e., borate-based glass with GaO and BaO, lead-phosphate glass with GaO, gallo-germanate glass modified by BaO/BaF, and multicomponent fluoride glass based on InF. Glasses present several emission bands at blue, reddish orange, and near-infrared spectral ranges, which correspond to 4f-4f electronic transitions of Pr. The profiles of emission bands and their relative intensity ratios depend strongly on glass-host. Visible emission of Pr ions is tuned from red/orange for borate-based glass to nearly white light for multicomponent fluoride glass based on InF. The positions and spectral linewidths for near-infrared luminescence bands at the optical telecommunication window corresponding to the G → H, D → G, and H → F,F transitions of Pr are dependent on glass-host matrices and excitation wavelengths. Low-phonon fluoride glasses based on InF and gallo-germanate glasses with BaO/BaF are excellent candidates for broadband near-infrared optical amplifiers. Spectroscopic properties of Pr-doped glasses are compared and discussed in relation to potential optical applications.