Photosensitivity of rare-earth-doped ZBLAN fluoride glasses

Author

Williams, Glen M. ; Tsai, Tsung-Ein ; Merzbacher, Celia I. ; Friebele, E. Joseph

Author_Institution

Div. of Opt. Sci., Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

15

Issue

8

fYear

1997

fDate

8/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1357

Lastpage

1362

Abstract

We have performed experiments to elucidate the mechanism of photosensitivity in rare-earth-doped fluorozirconate (ZBLAN) glasses. Glasses doped with Ce, Tb, Tm, and Pr were studied. Permanent holographic gratings were written in bulk samples using 248 nm light, with the strongest gratings observed in Ce:ZBLAN. Ultraviolet (UV) induced changes in both absorption and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra were observed. In the Ce-doped glasses, the grating formation dynamics were recorded as a function of write beam intensity and Ce concentration. The results indicate that the mechanism of photosensitivity involves color center(s) creation through a stepwise two photon excitation of a Ce ion. The color center(s) can be subsequently bleached by a single photon at 248 nm

Keywords

aluminium compounds; barium compounds; cerium; colour centres; holographic gratings; impurity absorption spectra; optical fibre fabrication; optical fibre testing; optical saturable absorption; paramagnetic resonance; sensitivity; sodium compounds; zirconium compounds; 248 nm; Ce concentration; Ce-doped glasses; Ce:ZBLAN; ESR spectra; UV induced changes; ZBLAN:Ce; ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF:Ce; bleached; electron spin resonance spectra; grating formation dynamics; permanent holographic gratings; photosensitivity; rare-earth-doped ZBLAN fluoride glasses; rare-earth-doped fluorozirconate glasses; stepwise two photon excitation; strongest gratings; write beam intensity; Bragg gratings; Fiber gratings; Fiber lasers; Gas lasers; Glass; Holographic optical components; Holography; Optical fibers; Paramagnetic resonance; Solid lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.618341

Filename

618341