Fabrication and Characterization of Er³+ Doped Cadmium Silicate Glasses

The aim of this study is the optimization of Er³⁺ doped laser glasses which are used for the realization of high power laser amplifier and fiber laser. The Er³⁺ doped cadmium silicate glasses were fabricated by the technique of high-temperature melting. The emission intensity of 1534 nm near-infrared light pumped at 488 nm, 532 nm and 800 nm laser were compared. The spectral parameters were determined from the measured absorption and fluorescence emission spectra using the theory of Judd-Ofelt and McCumber. The influences of Er³⁺ doped concentration and glass components on the physical and spectral properties of materials were investigated. The results show that the glass sample containing 4% of Er₂O₃ has the broadest fluorescence effective line width (67 nm) and large stimulated emission cross-section (0.82 × 10^-20 cm²) in these glass samples. Compared with other glass hosts, the broadband output and amplify properties of sample is better than tellurite, silicate, phosphate and germante glasses reported currently.