SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF Er3+DOPED IN SOL-GEL SILICA GLASS

Abstract

Trivalent Erbium ions (Er³⁺) doped in silica glass was prepared by sol-gel technique which relies on the chemical reaction of liquid precursors to form the glass. Absorption spectrum was recorded in the visible region which shows several peaks resulting from the transition from ground state ⁴I_15/2 to various excited states. The optical absorption has been investigated using Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory. J-O parameters were obtained from the absorption spectrum. Large value of the parameter Ω₂ shows that the bonding of the dopant to the host network is more covalent than ionic.