Emissions of 1.20 and 1.38 μm from Ho3+-doped lithium–barium–bismuth–lead oxide glass for optical amplifications

Abstract Efficient infrared emissions at 1.20 μm [ 5 I 6 → 5 I 8 transition] and 1.38 μm [( 5 F 4 , 5 S 2 ) → 5 I 5 transition] from Ho 3+ -doped lithium–barium–bismuth–lead (LBBP) glass were observed. The stimulated emission cross-sections were calculated to be 0.29 × 10 −20 and 0.25 × 10 −20 cm 2 for 1.20 and 1.38 μm emissions, respectively. Judd-Ofelt characteristic parameters Ω 2 , Ω 4 and Ω 6 for Ho 3+ in LBBP glass were calculated to be 6.72 × 10 −20 , 2.35 × 10 −20 and 0.61 × 10 −20 cm 2 , respectively, which indicates a strong asymmetry and a covalent environment between the Ho 3+ ions and the ligands in this glass. The optical amplifications operating at these relatively unexplored wavelength regions were evaluated and discussed.