Time-resolved investigations of erbium ions in ZBLAN-based glasses and glass ceramics

The lifetimes of the excited levels of Er3+ in ZBLAN-based glasses and glass ceramics were investigated by using time resolved spectroscopy. Upon direct excitation most of the radiative lifetimes of the excited levels do not show a dependency on the Er3+ doping level. However, for increasing Er3+ concentrations the lifetime of the thermally coupled (4S3/2+2H11/2) levels decreases significantly. For Er3+ doped glass ceramics containing BaCl2 nanocrystals the radiative lifetimes of the Er3+ levels change. For the (4S3/2+2H11/2) levels a fast component corresponding to the Er3+ doped glass and an additional slow component of a few hundred s was found.