Spectroscopic properties of Pr3+ and Er3+ ions in lead-free borate glasses modified by BaF2.

Lead-free oxyfluoride borate glasses singly doped with Pr 3+ and Er 3+ were prepared and next investigated using absorption and luminescence spectroscopy. In the studied glass system, barium oxide was substituted by BaF 2 . Two luminescence bands of Pr 3+ located at visible spectral region are observed, which correspond to 3 P 0 – 3 H 4 (blue) and 1 D 2 – 3 H 4 (reddish orange) transitions, respectively. The luminescence bands due to 1 D 2 – 3 H 4 transition of Pr 3+ are shifted to shorter wavelengths, when BaO was substituted by BaF 2 . Near-infrared luminescence spectra of Er 3+ ions in lead-free borate glasses modified by BaF 2 correspond to 4 I 13/2 – 4 I 15/2 transition. Their spectral linewidths increase with increasing BaF 2 concentration. The changes in measured lifetimes of rare earth ions are well correlated with the bonding parameters calculated from the optical absorption spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]