Spectroscopic and fluorescence decay behaviors of Yb3+-doped SiO2–PbO–Na2O–K2O glass

The spectroscopic and fluorescent decay behaviors of Yb3+-doped SiO2–PbO–Na2O–K2O glass is reported in this work. Yb2O3 contents of 1, 1.5 and 2 mol% are added into the glass. Through the measurement of absorption and fluorescence spectra, and fluorescent decay rate at room temperature and at low temperature (18 K), it is found that the nonradiative decay rate of Yb3+ ions is mainly determined by the interaction between residual hydroxyl groups and Yb3+ ions. Concentration quenching effect can be omitted in this glass up to the Yb3+ ion concentration of 8.98×1020/cm3. Multiphonon decay rate is also very small because of the large energy gap between 2F5/2 and 2F7/2 levels of Yb3+ ions.