title: Enhanced 2.0 microm emission and gain coefficient of transparent glass ceramic containing BaF2: Ho3+,Tm3+ nanocrystals.
abstract: Transparent glass ceramic containing BaF(2):Ho(3+),Tm(3+) nanocrystals has been prepared by melt quenching and subsequent thermal treatment. The precipitation of BaF(2) nanocrystals was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Intense 2.0 microm fluorescence originating from Ho(3+): (5)I(7) --> (5)I(8) transition was achieved upon excitation with 808 nm laser diode. A large ratio of forward Tm(3+) --> Ho(3+) energy transfer constant to that of backward process indicated high efficient energy transfer from Tm(3+)((3)F(4)) to Ho(3+)((5)I(7)), benefited from the reduced ionic distances of Tm(3+)-Tm(3+) and Tm(3+)-Ho(3+) pairs and low phonon energy environment with the incorporation of rare-earth ions into the precipitated BaF(2) nanocrystals. The results indicate that glass ceramic is a promising candidate material for 2.0 microm laser.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Specially Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Optical Communication Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, P. R. China.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Q Y
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Q J
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D017609:Barium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D006695:Holmium / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions; D007834:Lasers; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation; D013932:Thulium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D017609:Barium Compounds; D007477:Ions; D013932:Thulium; C055150:barium fluoride; D005459:Fluorides; D006695:Holmium