Enhanced structural and spectroscopic properties of Er³⁺-doped TeO₂-Ta₂O₅-ZnO glasses for 2.7?m fiber lasers

Tellurite-based glass composed of TeO2-Ta2O5-ZnO (labeled as TTZ) is explored as the host material for a potential 2.7 mu m fiber laser. It is found that the glass-forming region, structural and physical properties of TTZ glass undergo considerable changes when platinum crucible are adopted to prepare glass instead of alumina one. Especially, the Er3+-doped TTZ glass that melted in platinum crucible exhibits relatively larger absorption and emission cross-sections at 2.7 mu m than that of alumina one. Further studies show that an enhanced 2.7 mu m luminescence can be achieved from the heavily Er3+-doped TTZ glass, the absorption and emission cross -sections, figure of merit and maximum gain coefficient of Er3+-doped TTZ-Pt glasses at 2.7 mu m are calculated to be 0.91 x 10(-20) and 1.01 x 10(-20 )cm(2), 3.18 x 10(-24 )cm(2).s and 2.25 cm(-1), respectively, indicating that the Er3+-doped TTZ glass may be a promising candidate host for mid-infrared fiber lasers.