Energy transfer in Pr³⁺/Yb³⁺ codoped tellurite glasses

Resonant energy transfer between Pr³⁺ and Yb³⁺ ions has been studied in tellurite glasses. The energy absorbed by Pr³⁺ is transferred efficiently to Yb³⁺, and fluorescence at around 1 μm wavelength is observed. The energy transfer efficiencies for the ³P₀ → ³F₂ and ¹D₂ → ¹G₄ transitions in 0.5 wt% Pr³⁺-1.0 wt% Yb³⁺ codoped tellurite glasses are ∼68% and ∼84%, respectively, and the emission intensity of the ¹G₄ → ³H₅ transition of Pr³⁺ does not show any significant change, due to a possible back transfer energy from the ²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 transition of Yb³⁺ to the ¹G₄ level of Pr³⁺.