Spectroscopic characterization of $$\hbox {Er}³⁺$$ Er 3 + doped lead zinc phosphate glass via Judd–Ofelt analysis

Lead zinc phosphate (LZP) glass doped with 0.6% (hbox {Er}³⁺) is prepared by a conventional melt quenching technique. Judd–Ofelt (JO) analysis is carried out with an absorption spectrum of the as-prepared glass generating the set of JO parameters: (varOmega _2 =2.75 imes 10^-20, hbox {cm}^-2), (varOmega _4 =2.71 imes 10^-20, hbox {cm}^-2) and (varOmega _6 =0.44 imes 10^-20, hbox {cm}^-2). The magnitude of the spectroscopic quality factor ((chi _{mathrm{p}} )) defined by (varOmega _4 /varOmega _6 ) obtained in our sample turns out to be 6.16 which is 2–10 times larger than that of other (hbox {Er}³⁺) doped glasses. The lifetime of (⁴hbox {I}_13/2) and (⁴hbox {I}_11/2) levels estimated via the JO parameters is found to provide superior values of 7.25 and 5.51 ms, respectively. The elevated value of (varOmega _4 /varOmega _6 ) along with the estimated 100% luminescence branching ratio of (⁴hbox {I}_13/2 ightarrow ⁴hbox {I}_15/2) transition implies that (hbox {Er}³⁺) doped LZP can be a promising material as a laser active medium.