Excited state dynamics of the Ho3+ ions in holmium singly doped and holmium, praseodymium-codoped fluoride glasses

The deactivation of the two lowest excited states of Ho3+ was investigated in Ho3+ singly doped and Ho3+, Pr3+ -codoped fluoride (ZBLAN) glasses. We establish that 0.1-0.3 mol % Pr3+ can efficiently deactivate the first excited (I75) state of Ho3+ while causing a small reduction of ∼40% of the initial population of the second excited (I65) state. The net effect introduced by the Pr3+ ion deactivation of the Ho3+ ion is the fast recovery of the ground state of Ho3+. The Burshstein model parameters relevant to the Ho3+ → Pr3+ energy transfer processes were determined using a least squares fit to the measured luminescence decay. The energy transfer upconversion and cross relaxation parameters for 1948, 1151, and 532 nm excitations of singly Ho3+ -doped ZBLAN were determined. Using the energy transfer rate parameters we determine from the measured luminescence, a rate equation model for 650 nm excitation of Ho3+ -doped and Ho3+, Pr3+ -doped ZBLAN glasses was developed. The rate equations were solved numerically and the population inversion between the I65 and the I75 excited states of Ho3+ was calculated to examine the beneficial effects on the gain associated with Pr3+ codoping.