Frequency upconversion in a Pr3+ doped chalcogenide glass containing silver nanoparticles

International audienceWe report on orange-to-blue frequency upconversion (UC) in Pr3+ doped chalcogenide glass (Ga10Ge25S65) doped with Ag2S and heat treated under different conditions to nucleate silver nanoparticles (NPs). The experiments were performed using 7 ns pulses from a dye laser that operates at ∼ 590 nm, in resonance with the 3H4→1D2 transition of Pr3+ ions. The enhancement observed in the UC emission at ∼ 494 nm, ascribed as 3P0→3H4 transition of the Pr3+ ion, is attributed to the large local field acting on the emitting ions due to the presence of the metallic NPs