Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
In this article, we report on enhanced broadband near-infrared emission in Yb–Bi codoped phosphate glasses. The emission intensity of Yb–Bi codoped glass was ˜32 times larger than that of Bi-doped glass when excited with 980-nm laser diode. The highest 1/e fluorescent lifetime of Yb–Bi codoped glass reached 1650 μs. The dependence of emission intensity and fluorescent lifetime on Yb2O3 concentration was investigated. The enhancement of the near-infrared emission is due to energy transfer from Yb3+ (2F5/2–2F7/2) transition to Bi ions, and the highest energy transfer efficiency reached 50%. Yb–Bi codoped phosphate glass should be a promising candidate for broadband optical amplification.