Pr3+–Yb3+‐codoped lanthanum fluorozirconate glasses and waveguides for visible laser emission

Pr3+-Yb3+-codoped fluoride glass waveguides have been synthesized by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). A study of the evaporation of ternary mixture of rare earth fluorides LaF3-PrF3-YbF3 has been necessary to control the doping of the evaporated glass. Optical and spectroscopic studies have been performed in both bulk and waveguide configuration. Red, orange, green and blue emissions in Pr3+-Yb3+-codoped lanthanum flurozirconate glasses called ZLAG have been investigated, by exciting in the blue or in the infra-red at 980 nm. Bulk samples with different dopant concentrations (0.25-3 mol% for Pr3+ and 0-5 mol% for Yb3+) have been studied in order to optimize the Pr3+ emission. It has been shown than the luminescence is similar in bulk and waveguide upon excitation at 980 nm.