title: Visible and near infra-red up-conversion in Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped silica fibers under 980 nm excitation.
abstract: The spectroscopic properties of Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped silica fibers under excitation at 980 nm are reported. Three distinct up-conversion fluorescence bands were observed in the visible to near infra-red regions. The blue and red fluorescence bands at 475 and 650 nm, respectively, were found to originate from the (1)G(4) level of Tm(3+). A three step up-conversion process was established as the populating mechanism for these fluorescence bands. The fluorescence band at 800 nm was found to originate from two possible transitions in Tm(3+); one being the transition from the (3)H(4) to (3)H(6) manifold which was found to dominate at low pump powers; the other being the transition from the (1)G(4) to (3)H(6) level which dominates at higher pump powers. The fluorescence lifetime of the (3)H(4) and (3)F(4) levels of Tm(3+) and (2)F(5/2) level of Yb(3+) were studied as a function of Yb(3+) concentration, with no significant energy back transfer from Tm(3+) to Yb(3+) observed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Telecommunications and Micro-Electronics, Optical Technology Research Laboratory, Victoria University, Victoria 8001, Australia.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dussardier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monnom
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peterka
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Baxter
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008422:Materials Testing; D013932:Thulium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015018:Ytterbium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013932:Thulium; D015018:Ytterbium