Broadband fluorescence of Sb3+-doped silica fibres

Abstract Silica fibres doped with 0.5 at.% of Ta5+, Ag+, Pb2+ or Sb3+ are manufactured with the technique of granulated oxides. The produced fibres are spectroscopically investigated at 293 K. The Sb3+:silica fibre shows a broad fluorescence at 630 nm with FWHM of 105 nm when excited at 337 nm or 488 nm. Tantalum, silver and lead show no measurable fluorescence when excited at 488 nm, 514 nm, 633 nm, 800 nm, 980 nm and 1064 nm. Excitation at 337 nm results in a weak luminescence similar to that of pure silica.