Spectroscopic properties of Yb3+-doped silicate glasses

The absorption, emission and potential laser properties of silicate glasses doped with Yb3+ ions are investigated in detail. The emission cross-sections (σemi) are calculated on the basis of reciprocity method according to the measured absorption spectra. The potential laser properties for Yb3+-doped glasses are evaluated by the minimum fraction of Yb3+ (βmin), the pump saturation intensity (Isat), the minimum pump intensity (Imin), and the product of emission cross-section (σemi) and fluorescence lifetime (τf). The σemi near 1020 nm and τf of Yb3+ in 61SiO2–25PbO–6Na2O–8K2O glass are 0.49 pm2 and 2.00 ms, respectively, which are comparable to those in phosphate glasses. Systematical factor of laser properties (SFL) is introduced to evaluate the potential laser properties of Yb3+-doped glasses, the results indicate that Yb3+-doped silicate glasses are potential materials for double cladding ytterbium fiber laser application.