Time-resolved up-converted luminescence in Er3+-doped TeO2–ZnO glass

Abstract Here is reported time-resolved up-converted luminescence of Er3+-doped 70TeO2–30ZnO glasses. The photoluminescence shows non-exponential decay. This behaviour is explained as due to a multi-configurational distribution of luminescent ions in a disordered medium. Green and red up-converted fluorescences are obtained under cw laser excitation. Its dynamics, in lightly doped glasses, are mainly explained by an excited-state absorption (ESA) process. In heavily doped glasses, the time evolutions are explained in terms of ESA process within erbium ions and essentially of an energy transfer between excited ions.