Estudo dos parâmetros termo-óticos do vidro fosfato PANK:Nd3+ em função da temperatura

Abstract

This work describes a spectroscopic analysis of phosphate glass called PANK ( 4 0 P22 0 5 ■ 2 0A120 3 ■ 3 5 N a20 ■ 5 K20 ( m o 1 %)) + xNd2O3 with x = 1, 2, 3, 4 e 5 (wt%), as a function of temperature in the range from 80 K to 480 K. Phosphate glasses have received a lot of attention of the researchers by their good thermal-optical properties, as well as, a high quantum efficiency when doped with Nd ion. These properties allow them to be applied as active laser medium, optical fibers and optical amplifiers. In general the studies of properties are performed at room temperature (300 K). However it is necessary execute these studies as a function of temperature, because these properties may be temperature dependent. Applying the thermal lens technique and using the measure of the lifetime of luminescence, was possible to find temperature dependence of quantum efficiency of luminescence. To obtain it was used the normalized lifetime method. As a support to the study were performed measurements of photoluminescence spectra. A discontinuity in thermal diffusivity was observed about 180 K. In the same region an inversion of the thermal lens sign occurred, probably associated in a signal change of the variation of the optical path with the temperature. Both effects were observed for all samples. In this study, it was clear that both the increase of the concentration of Nd ion and increase of the material temperature produced a quenching of luminescence. This effect is noticed in lifetime and quantum efficiency results. Analyzing the result of lifetime in the limit of zero concentration (x ^ 0), it was observed its value has a thermal quenching from 80 - 200 K and it is related with the thermal excitation of the population in the lower level to the upper Stark level of the metastable level 4F3/2. After 200 K its value keeps constant and it is in good agreement of the radiative lifetime calculated by Judd-Ofelt theory. Based on the behavior of the quantum efficiency in the limit of zero concentration, it is possible to see two regions with thermal quenching. The first one agrees with the same thermal quenching that diminished the value of lifetime while the second one is related to an energy loss by thermal activation of one vibrational mode, confirmed by Raman spectrum. Finally, the results obtained in this work are fundamental to increase the discussion of the temperature dependence of thermal-optical properties, which is important to develop of new solid state laser.