Optical properties and frequency upconversion fluorescence in a Tm3+ -doped alkali niobium tellurite glass

Optical spectroscopic properties of Tm3+-doped 60TeO2−10GeO2−10K2O−10Li2O−10Nb2O5 glass are reported. The absorption spectra were obtained and radiative parameters were determined using the Judd–Ofelt theory. Characteristics of excited states were studied in two sets of experiments. Excitation at 360 nm originates a relatively narrow band emission at 450 nm attributed to transition D21→3F4 of the Tm3+ ion with photon energy larger than the band-gap energy of the glass matrix. Excitation at 655 nm originates a frequency upconverted emission at 450 nm (1D2→3F4) and emission at 790 nm (3H4→3H6). The radiative lifetimes of levels D21 and H43 were measured and the differences between their experimental values and the theoretical predictions are understood as due to the contribution of energy transfer among Tm3+ ions.