Rare earth ions doped optical functional glass and application (Invited)

The luminescence and laser properties of rare earth are produced by the transition of 4f electrons between different energy levels. Due to its special properties, rare earth ions doped optical-functional glass have played important roles in high power laser system, whether as active or passive components. Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ doped phosphate laser glass, which have high rare earth ion doping concentration, preparation characteristics with large size and high uniformity, can be used in high energy laser as an important gain medium material; Volume Bragg grating based on Ce³⁺-doped Photo-Thermo-Refractive glass, is a multifunctional optical components in high power laser system, owing to its excellent wavelength and angular selectivity, high diffraction efficiency, high thermal stability and high damage threshold. In this paper the latest progress of Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ doped phosphate laser glass and Volume Bragg grating base on Ce³⁺-doped Photo-Thermo-Refractive glass were reported.