Investigation on Tm3+-doped silicate glass for 1.8 μm emission

A Tm3+-doped silicate glass (SiO2–CaO–Na2O–K2O) with good thermal stability is prepared by the melt-quenching method. Intense 1.8 μm emission is obtained when pumped by an 808 nm laser diode. Based on the measured absorption spectra, radiative properties are predicted using Judd–Ofelt theory and Judd–Ofelt parameters Ωλ (λ=2, 4, 6), as well as absorption and emission cross-sections are calculated and analyzed. The difference between the measured Tm3+:3F4 lifetime and the calculated lifetime is also discussed. The emission property together with good thermal property indicates that Tm3+-doped silicate glass is a potential kind of laser glass for efficient 2 μm laser.