Microfabricação de guias ópticos em vidros óxidos de metais pesados contendo terras-raras

Abstract

In this study, we present the production and characterization of a novel binary glass system: (100-x)SbPO4-xGeO2 where x = 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 mol %. The dependence of GeO2 content on thermal, structural and optical properties were investigated by thermal analysis (DSC), Raman spectroscopy, UV-Visible absorption, infrared transmittance and M-lines techniques. Glass transition temperatures (Tg) shows an almost constant value around 400 °C when GeO2 content was increased. Thermal stability (ΔT = Tx-Tg) increases almost linearly with GeO2 content reaching a maximum value (300 °C). Ions Er3+ and Yb3+ were further incorporated into system SG in different proportions. Infrared and up-conversion emission processes were investigated. The emission spectra in the infrared region showed that the incorporation of Yb3+ ions into the glass composition increases the emission intensity at 1538 nm (4I13/2  4I15/2). The up-conversion processes showed a higher intensity emission at 522 nm and 544 nm (green) and 652 nm (red) regions and the emission mechanism has been the same as proposed in several works in literature. Finally, the glass sample showing the highest emission intensity at 1538 nm was chosen for micromachining using femtosecond laser. The waveguides having the lowest propagation losses were used for the optical internal gain proceeds. The best result obtained for internal gain at 1535 nm was around 1.7 dB/cm and this value is in agreement with other glass systems based on germanium and phosphates glasses present in literature.