Silicate glass for upconversion fluorescence
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsCraig R. Schardt, Mark T. Anderson, James R. Onstott, Lowell C. Frank
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Abstract
A thulium doped silicate glass composition which contains SiO2, Al2O3, and La2O3 emits visible and UV light when excited by infrared light. The glass composition may also contain GeO2 and Er2O3. When excited by infrared light of about 1060 nm, the glass emits visible light at fluorescent transitions of the Tm3+ ions with major broad features at 365, 455, 472, 651, and 791 nm.
Claims29
An upconversion light source comprising:
- a silicate glass comprising silica and oxides of Al, La, and Tm;
- and
- a pump source of a first radiation having a first peak wavelength coupled to the silicate glass;
- wherein the first radiation excites Tm ions in the silicate glass to emit at second radiation having a second peak wavelength shorter than the first peak wavelength.
A method for upconverting first radiation having a first peak wavelength into second radiation having a second peak wavelength that is shorter than the first peak wavelength, the method comprising:
- providing a silicate glass comprising silica and oxides of Al, La, and Tm;
- and
- irradiating the silicate glass with the first radiation causing the silicate glass to emit the second radiation.
A light-emitting fiber comprising:
- an optical glass fiber comprising silica and oxides of Al, La, Ge, Er, and Tm;
- and
- a pump source of a first radiation having a first peak wavelength coupled to the optical fiber to excite Tm ions in the core of the optical glass fiber so that the fiber emits a second radiation having a second peak wavelength, that is shorter than the first peak wavelength.
An upconversion light source comprising:
- a silicate glass comprising silica and oxides of Al, La, and Tm;
- and
- a pump source of pump radiation for exciting Tm ions in the silicate glass to 1G4 and 1D2 excited states to produce upconverted emitted radiation.
A method producing blue light, the method comprising:
- providing a silicate glass comprising silica and oxides of Al, La, and Tm;
- and
- irradiating the silicate glass with pump radiation of a wavelength which is absorbed by Tm ions in the silicate glass to cause the Tm ions in the silicate glass to emit blue light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.