Molecular orbital model of optical centers in bismuth-doped glasses.

Spectroscopic properties of optical fibers with a bismuth-doped silicate glass core are explained on the basis of molecular orbital theory and a solution of the Schrödinger equation, which takes into account the exchange, the spin-orbital, and the glass field potential interactions of s, p, and d electron shells of bismuth with s(sigma), p(sigma), and p(pi) orbits of oxygen atoms. The approach can explain the IR luminescence properties of other optical centers formed by other atoms with the same structure of electron shells as the bismuth atom. The model of transitions based on intramolecular charge transfer between molecular orbital and metallic states is proposed.

Bismuth-doped-glass optical fibers--a new active medium for lasers and amplifiers.

Optical fibers with bismuth-doped silicate and germanate glass cores were fabricated by the modified chemical vapor deposition technique (solution and vapor-phase Bi incorporation). The fibers revealed an efficient luminescence with a maximum in the 1050-1200 nm spectral range, FWHM up to 200 nm, and a lifetime of the order of 1 ms.