Glasses based on rare earth oxide-aluminum oxide and containing high concentrations of Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, or Ho2O3 were synthesized. The host glass is strong, hard, highly resistant to chemical attack, and stable to temperatures ~1000°C. Addition of up to 20 mole % silica markedly increased glass formability while maintaining infrared transmission to ~ 5000 nm in sections up to a few mm. The fluorescence lifetime of excited states in the dopant ions was measured as a function of dopant concentration, pump power and host composition. The absorption cross section and fluorescence line shape were measured for selected compositions. We present details of the glass synthesis and properties, and results of the optical measurements in the context of developing glass-based optical devices.
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