Evaluation of laser level populations of erbium-doped glasses

A simulation of erbium-doped glass systems, which provides population density for the excited states involved in the 1.5 mu m and also for 2.7 mu m emissions when pumped around 980 nm, is presented. To describe the diode pump laser processes, a theoretical model based in a coupled system of differential rate equations was developed. The approach used and the obtained spectroscopic parameters are discussed. The materials under study are two oxide glasses, lead fluoroborate (PbO-PbF2-B2O3), and heavy metal oxide (Bi2O3 PbO-Ga2O3) and a fluoride glass (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF), all of them doped with Er3+. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved