Influence of addition of B₂O₃ on properties of Yb³⁺-doped phosphate laser glass

Abstract

The three host glasses doped with Yb³⁺ were prepared by means of conventional melt quenching technology, and the influence on physical and spectral properties of phosphate glass due to addition of B₂O₃ was investigated and compared with silicate glass. The results show that due to the existence of OH⁻ impurities which induce the non-radiative route, the fluorescence lifetime of phosphate glass is shorter, so silicate glass has better spectral properties than phosphate glass. Silicate glass has more excellent thermal-mechanical properties than phosphate glass, but with the addition of B₂O₃, thermal-mechanical properties of phosphate glass are improved greatly without fluorescence quenching effect, and this kind of borophosphate glass will be the candidate to be used in high average power solid state laser.

Keywords

Yb³⁺ ion / laser glass / spectral property / thermal-mechanical properties