Er3+-doped Na2O·Cd3Al2Si3O12 glass for infrared and upconversion applications

Er3+-doped Na2O·Cd3Al2Si3O12 glass suitable for making optical waveguide devices has been fabricated and characterized for the first time. The density, the refractive indices, the optical absorption, the Judd–Ofelt parameters and the spontaneous transition probabilities have been measured and calculated. Strong 1.535 μm fluorescence was observed under 973 nm excitation, and its emission cross-section has been determined from the line shape of the emission spectrum and the measured lifetime for the 4I13/2 level. The maximum emission cross-section is obtained as 7.28×10−21 cm2 at 1.535 μm. Efficient green and weak red upconversion luminescence from Er3+ centers in the sample was observed at room temperature, and the upconversion excitation processes have been analyzed.