Abstract: The Ce ³⁺ ions and B₂O₃ component were introduced into the Er³⁺-doped Bi₂O₃-GeO₂-Ga₂O₃-Na₂O glasses, respectively. And the suppression of excited state absorption of Er³⁺ :⁴I_11/2level was investigated under the excitation of 975nm LD. With the introduction of Ce³⁺ ion or B₂O₃ component, the energy transfer between Er³⁺ :⁴I_11/2 and Ce³⁺:²F_5/2 levels or the multi-phonon relaxation rate of Er³⁺:⁴I_11/2→⁴I_13/2 increase, respectively, and the excited state absorption is suppressed efficiently owing to the evident decrease of ⁴I_11/2 level fluorescence lifetime. Meanwhile, the results
show that the total quantum efficiency of Er³⁺:⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 is enhanced in the case of Ce³⁺ ion doping, and the fluorescence intensity of 1.55μm radiative transition is improved accordingly while its effective spectral width is almost
unchanged. In the case of B₂O₃ component introduction, although the 1.55μm fluorescence intensity is somewhat weakened, its effective spectral width is further broadened and the peak wavelength of gain cross-section shifts to longer wavelength region.

Key words: bismuth-based glass, excited-state absorption, quantum efficiency, gain cross-section