Yb to Er energy transfer and rate-equations formalism in the eye safe laser material Yb:Er:Ca2Al2SiO7

Rate equations formalism is used to predict the population ratio of the Er^{3+ 4}I_13/2 levels involved in the 1.55 μm laser transition in the Yb:Er:CAS laser materials. An effective Yb → Er energy transfer, favourable to the Er³⁺ 1.55 μm laser emission, is demonstrated in this laser host. Indeed, the Yb → Er transfer and the Er → Yb back transfer rates are calculated to be 6 x 10⁻¹⁶ and 0.45 x 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ s⁻¹, respectively. Attempts of codoping the system with Nd³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Ce³⁺ have been realised in order to increase the population of the Er^{3+ 4}I_13/2 laser emitting level. Best results are obtained with Ce³⁺ ion since in the sample containing 6 x 10²⁰ Ce³⁺/cm³, the Er^{3+ 4}I_11/2 level lifetime is divided by a factor of 3 while the Er^{3+ 4}I_13/2 fluorescence lifetime remains unaffected. On the contrary, codoping with Nd³⁺ or Eu³⁺ ions simultaneously decreases the Er^{3+ 4}I_11/2 and ⁴I_13/2 kinetics parameters. The role of the other parameters such as Yb/Er concentrations ratios is also discussed.     

Evaluation of the capabilities of several ions to sensitize Nd in the laser material LNA (La0.9Nd0.1MgAl11O19)

In the hexaaluminate laser material La_0.9Nd_0.1MgAl₁₁O₁₉ also known as LMA:Nd the Nd³⁺ fluorescence can be enhanced by codoping the matrix with rare-earth (REⁿ⁺) or transition metal (TM^m+) ions. A large number of potential donor ions D (D = Mn²⁺, Dy³⁺, Tb³⁺, Eu²⁺, Eu³⁺ and Ti³⁺) are studied in the hexaaluminate host. The D→Nd³⁺ energy transfer, t he, luminescent efficiency as well as the back-transfer strongly depend on the overlap of the D emission and Nd³⁺ absorption, the concentration of the two ions and their localization in the crystal host. In this paper the optical properties — absorption and emission — of the D and Nd³⁺ ions as well as the D→Nd³⁺ interactions are considered using a Forster-Dexter's approach, to compare the capabilities of the different donors in the Nd³⁺-doped hexaaluminate host. The C_DNd and R₀ parameters are estimated in each case, and the results discussed in terms of the localization of the donor ions, their absorption and emission as well as their lifetime properties.     

Synthesis and the luminescent properties of europium-activated Ca2SnO4 phosphors

The synthesis and photoluminescent (PL) properties of calcium stannate crystals doped with europium grown by mechanically activated in a high energy vibro-mill have been investigated. The characteristics of Ca₂SnO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors were found to depend on the amounts of europium ions. The XRD profiles revealed that the system, (Ca_1−xEu_x)₂SnO₄, could form stable solid solutions in the composition range of x = 0–7% after being calcined at 1200 °C. The calcined powders emit bright red luminescence centered at 618 nm due to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ electric dipole transition. Both XRD data and the emission ratio of (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂)/(⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁) reveal that the site symmetry of Eu³⁺ ions decreases with increasing doping concentration. The maximum PL intensity has been obtained for 7 mol% concentration of Eu³⁺ in Ca₂SnO₄.     

Spectroscopic evidence of inhomogeneous distribution of Nd in YVO4, YPO4 and YAsO4 crystals

Nd³⁺ : YVO₄ is one of the most interesting laser hosts for micro and diode-pumped solid state lasers. We have studied magnetic and optical properties of Nd³⁺ in three zircon type crystals YMO₄ (M=V, As, P). In particular, Nd³⁺ ions exhibit in the three hosts a multisite character observed in the absorption and emission spectra. However, the emission and its dynamics are strongly dependant on the reabsorption mechanisms. In Nd : YVO₄, single crystals containing 7 ± 1 × 10¹⁸ Nd³⁺ ions/cm³, the lifetime is 95 ± 2 μs in good agreement with the calculated radiative lifetime. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) measurements are performed to identify the nature of the different substitution sites for Nd³⁺ ions. Nd³⁺ ions are found to be inhomogeneously distributed in tetragonal D_2d symmetry sites, in isolated ions, “shallow clusters” and pairs. Proportions of the different local environments depend on the total neodymium concentration. For instance, 15% of the Nd³⁺ ions are gathered in Nd³⁺–Nd³⁺ pairs for 7.2 ± 0.2 × 10¹⁹ Nd³⁺ ions/cm³.     

Structure, nucleation and Eu luminescence in alkaline earth rare earth borate glass

In La₂O₃-MO-B₂O₃ ternary system, various glasses/ glass ceramics with M=Ca, Sr and Ba have been prepared. In this ternary system, homogeneous nucleation occuring in the B₂O₃ melt appears to be the cause for the formation of nanocrystallites, hence glass ceramics. The nucleation process is very much dependent on the alkaline earth used viz., with smaller alkaline earths like Ca, boron prefers (BO₄)⁵⁻ tetrahedral coordination with oxygen, while in the case of bigger alkaline earths like Ba and Sr, (BO₃)³⁻ triangular coordination seems to be predominant. Eu³⁺ in this glass system yields intense ⁵D₀→⁷F_j emission. A cursory view on the dependence of the various Judd-Ofelt parameters (Ω_k) indicates that Ω₂ parameter is very much dependent on the immediate vicinity of the luminescent ion (Eu³⁺) while Ω₄ is not. Various results based on these are discussed.     

Optical properties and energy transfer among Nd in Nd:Ca2Al2SiO7 crystals for diode pumped lasers

The energy levels of neodymium in the Nd³⁺:Ca₂Al₂SiO₇ (CAS) laser material with gehlenite structure are reported. As the Nd³⁺:Ca₂Al₂SiO₇ compound presents a broad absorption around 806 nm, it is a good candidate for diode pumped laser. The ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_9/2 and ⁴F_3/2→⁴I11/2 emission have been recorded and the fluorescence branching ratios calculated from the Judd-Ofelt analysis are 0.41 and 0.47 respectively. The emission cross section at 1.06 μm (⁴F_3/2→⁴I11/2 transition) is 5 × 10^-20 cm². The decay profiles of the Nd³⁺ emission have been analyzed for several Nd³⁺ concentrations using the kinetic microparameters related to the cross relaxation ( and R₀≈6 Å) and the energy migration probabilities ( ). In the Nd:CAS laser material, the optimal concentration corresponding to the maximum of the fluorescence intensity is determined to be around 2.7 × 10²⁰ Nd³⁺ ions cm^-3. The Nd³⁺-Nd³⁺ interactions are not very strong in this material as the optical concentration value is two times higher than in the Nd:YAG laser material.     

Temperature dependent luminescence in (Eu, Dy) doped tellurite glass

This short paper reports both the photoluminescence and the lifetime measurements of a prominent emission transition (⁵D₀→⁷F₂) of Eu³⁺ both in the presence and absence of the codopant rare earth ion (Dy³⁺) in an optical glass of the composition (79−x)TeO₂+6AlF₃+15LiF+xLn₂O₃ as a function of temperature down to 10 K.     

Valency states of Yb, Eu, Dy and Ti ions in Li2B4O7 glasses

Absorption and emission spectra of Eu and Dy, Yb and Ti ions in Li₂B₄O₇ glasses grown in oxygen and hydrogen gas atmospheres were measured for valency states and lattice-sites analysis. For the Li₂B₄O₇ glass doped with Eu²⁺, Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ ions which were grown in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres, absorption and emission bands due to these ions were investigated before and after γ-irradiation. For the Yb³⁺-doped Li₂B₄O₇ glass, a weak, broad band was observed near the sharp 976.3 nm absorption band. The origin of this band is discussed in comparison with other glasses. Moreover, irradiation experiments using γ-rays were also performed in order to investigate the possibility of valency change of Yb ions. It was found that Ti⁴⁺ ions, which are produced under oxidizing atmosphere, change to Ti³⁺ ions after γ-irradiation with a dose of 10⁵ Gy. An additional absorption band observed at about 500 nm is due to the Ti³⁺ ions accompanied by charge-compensating vacancy and does not give any emission.     

Infrared absorption and Zeeman effect in Nd doped YVO4

Low temperature infrared transmission studies of Nd³⁺ doped YVO₄ were performed, under a magnetic field B c, in the 1800–8000 cm⁻¹ range of the ⁴I_9/2→⁴I_11/2, ⁴I_13/2, and ⁴I_15/2 Nd³⁺ crystal-field transitions. Good agreement is obtained between the experimental and calculated g-factors. Frequencies of the satellites in the ⁴I_9/2→⁴F_3/2 transitions of the Nd³⁺ isolated ion confirm the presence of ferromagnetic interactions between pairs of coupled Nd³⁺ ions that lift the Kramers doublet degeneracies of their ground state and excited multiplets.     

Optical properties of rare earth ion (Nd, Er and Tb)-doped alumina films prepared by the sol–gel method

Rare earth ion (Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ and Tb³⁺)-doped alumina films were prepared by the sol–gel method using aqueous alumina sol. The effects of dopant concentration and treatment temperature on the optical properties, absorption and emission were examined for the doped films. Alumina films prepared by this method gave a high dopant concentration (0–15 mol% per alumina). Significant concentration quenching did not occur in this concentration range. The emissions from ⁵D₃ and ⁵D₄ of Tb³⁺-doped film reflected sensitively a matrix environment around Tb³⁺ ions. Er³⁺- and Nd³⁺-doped alumina films resonantly excited by cw Ti–sapphire laser (800 nm) showed upconversion emission at room temperature. The former gave 548 nm (⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2) and 640 nm (⁴F_9/2→⁴I_11/2) signals, and the latter 640 nm (⁴G_7/2→⁴I_11/2), which were dependent on alumina.     

Energy transfer and radiationless relaxation processes in Nd and Cr doped mixed garnet crystals

Four-wave mixing and flourescence dynamics measurements have been used to investigate the energy transfer processes in (Gd,Ca)₃(Ga,Mg,Zr)₂Ga₃O₁₂ crystals doped with Nd³⁺ or codoped with Cr³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions. The results show that strong, short range energy transfer takes place between Cr³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions and this is enhanced by long range energy migration among the Cr³⁺ ions. Energy migration was also found to occur among the Nd³⁺ ions. The energy migration properties are affected by the active ion concentration, the distribution of active ions, ion-ion iteraction rates, and temperature. In addition, the pump band to metastable state radiationless relaxation process in the Cr³⁺ ions was characterized by determining the values of the dephasing time from the properties of the four-wave mixing signal. The effects of anharmonic coupling are needed to explain the variation of the T₂-dephasing time as a function of the crystal field splitting between the ²E and ⁴T₂ levels for a series of Cr³⁺-doped materials.     

Optical properties, fluorescence mechanisms and energy transfer in Tm, Ho and Tm -Ho doped near-infrared laser glasses, sensitized by Yb

The optical properties of the rare elements Tm³⁺, Ho³⁺ and Yb³⁺ were systematically investigated in various glasses. The Tm³⁺ doped aluminozircofluoride glass shows higher quantum efficiency, longer lifetime and stronger fluorescence intensity than Tm³⁺ doped YSGG crystal and other Tm³⁺ doped glasses for the ³H₄ → ³H₆ transition. Similar quantum efficiency, longer lifetime and stronger fluorescence intensity were also found in Ho³⁺ doped aluminozircofluoride glass for the ⁵I₇ → ⁵I₈ transition. The higher quantum efficiencies of Tm³⁺ and Ho³⁺ in aluminozircofluoride glass are due to the longer lifetime and the lower phonon energy. The fluorescence mechanisms and energy transfer in the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ system, Yb³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system and Yb³⁺ - Tm³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system were studied. The very strong fluorescence intensities in the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ system for Tm³⁺ and the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system for Ho³⁺ which are 1.68 times that of Tm³⁺ doped YSGG crystal and 2.25 times that of Tm³⁺---Ho³⁺ codoped YSGG crystal are attributed to the efficient Yb³⁺ → Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺ → Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ → Ho³⁺ energy transfer processes. The fluorescence processes are described by cross relaxations of ²F_5/2 → ³H₅ → ³H₄ → ³H₆ → ²F_7/2 and²F_5/2 → ³H₅ (or ²F_5/2 → ⁵I₆ → ³H₅) → ³H₄ → ⁵I₇ → ⁵I₈ → ³H₆ → ²F_7/2.     

YVO4∶Eu3+,Bi3+红色荧光粉的水热合成及其荧光性能

以Y₂O₃、Eu₂O₃、Bi(NO₃)₃·H₂O、浓HNO₃、偏钒酸铵、氨水、无水乙醇和一缩二乙二醇为原料,采用聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)辅助水热法合成YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米颗粒。使用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、红外光谱(IR)和荧光光谱(FL)等手段对产品进行了表征和分析。结果表明：合成的样品为YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米颗粒,均具有四方晶相结构,其微结构随反应溶液的的pH值变化。YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米颗粒在619 nm处有较强的红光发射(电偶极跃迁⁵D₀→⁷F₂),在594 nm有较弱的橙光发射(磁偶极跃迁⁵D₀→⁷F₁)。随着Eu/Bi比值的增大材料的荧光先增强后减弱,在Eu/Bi比值为5时样品的红光发射最强。溶液的pH值影响YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米晶的发光强度,其中pH值为10时的样品其红光发射最强。并探讨了YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米晶的发光机理。     

Eu2+/Tb3+掺杂的Sr2Si5N8基荧光粉的制备与发光性能

采用碳热还原氮化法合成了Eu²⁺/Tb³⁺掺杂的Sr₂Si₅N₈基荧光粉, 并重点研究了Tb³⁺-Eu²⁺共掺时Sr₂Si₅N₈基荧光粉的发光性能。研究结果表明: 由于Tb³⁺的f → d间的跃迁是自旋允许的, Sr₂Si₅N₈:Tb³⁺在330 nm激发光下, 在490、543、585和623 nm四处各有一发射峰, 它们分别来源于Tb³⁺的⁵D₄ → ⁷F_j (j = 6、5、4、3)能级跃迁; 掺入Tb³⁺对Sr_1.96Si₅N₈:0.04Eu²⁺的激发谱和发射谱的形状及峰位无明显影响, 当共掺离子Tb³⁺浓度为x = 0.01时, 样品发射强度比未共掺的Sr_1.96Si₅N₈:0.04Eu²⁺提高了约20%, Tb³⁺主要通过电多极能量传递的方式转向Eu²⁺。     

Enhancement of Er I13/2 population in Y2O3 by energy transfer to Ce

We report measurements of the energy transfer between Er³⁺ and Ce³⁺ in Y₂O₃. The transition between the Er^{3+ 4}I_11/2 and ⁴I_13/2 excited states can be stimulated by energy transfer to Ce³⁺, augmenting the population in the ⁴I_13/2 state at the expense of that in the ⁴I_11/2 state. Experiments were performed on Y₂O₃ planar waveguides doped with 0.2 at.% erbium and 0–0.42 at.% cerium by ion implantation. From measurements of Er³⁺ decay rates as a function of cerium concentration we derive an energy transfer rate constant of 1.3×10⁻¹⁸ cm³/s. The efficiency of the energy transfer amounts to 0.47 at 0.42 at.% cerium. The energy transfer rate constant measured in Y₂O₃ is two times smaller for Er³⁺→Ce³⁺ than that for Er³⁺→Eu³⁺ in the same material.     

Nd3+:Lu2O3放电等离子烧结及光学性能

Lu₂O₃是具有高热导率而成为极具潜力的高功率激光介质材料。实验以商用氧化物粉体为原料, LiF为烧结助剂, 采用放电等离子烧结法制备了不同Nd³⁺掺杂浓度(C_Nd=0, 1at%, 3at%和5at%) Lu₂O₃透明陶瓷, 并研究了Nd³⁺掺杂浓度对Lu₂O₃陶瓷的物相、烧结性能、微观结构及光学性能的影响。结果表明：在高Nd³⁺浓度(5at%)掺杂后烧结样品仍为纯Lu₂O₃相;Nd³⁺掺杂对Lu₂O₃陶瓷烧结性能及微观形貌的影响有限;所有样品最终均表现出高致密性(99.5%以上)和优异的透光性能, 其中3at% Nd³⁺:Lu₂O₃的透过率最高, 在1064和2000 nm处的透过率分别为82.7和83.2%。Nd³⁺:Lu₂O₃透明陶瓷的最强发射峰位于1076和1080 nm;且随着Nd³⁺掺杂浓度的增加, 荧光强度降低, 寿命变短, 发生浓度淬灭。     

Preparation and photoluminescence properties of Eu-doped Ga2O3 nanorods

GaOOH:Eu³⁺ nanorods with different aspect ratios were prepared by hydrothermal method at 140 °C. - and β-Ga₂O₃:Eu³⁺ were converted from as-prepared GaOOH:Eu³⁺ particles by calcination at 500 and 850 °C, respectively. The products were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL). Results show that solution pH values play a key role in the formation of the GaOOH:Eu³⁺ powders with different morphologies and - and β-Ga₂:Eu³⁺ inherit the morphology of GaOOH:Eu³⁺ exactly. The photoluminescence characteristics of β-Ga₂O₃:Eu³⁺ were also investigated. Experimental results reveal that the color purity of β-Ga₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanorods with high aspect ratio is enhanced in comparison with β-Ga₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanorods with low aspect ratio.     

Ba3Gd(PO4)3:Eu3+荧光粉的合成及发光性质

采用高温固相反应法合成了不同Eu³⁺掺杂浓度的Ba₃Gd(PO₄)₃荧光粉。利用X射线衍射对产生的晶体结构进行了分析, 证实产物为纯相, Eu³⁺的引入没有导致晶体结构的改变。利用Van Uitert模型对⁵D₀能级荧光的浓度猝灭行为进行了研究, 发现浓度猝灭是由于Eu³⁺间交换相互作用所导致。分析了⁵D₀荧光发射的温度依赖, 给出了荧光温度猝灭行为符合横向穿越模型, 并通过非线性拟合获得了激活能。利用Eu³⁺的发射光谱和荧光衰减数据, 计算了⁵D₀→⁷F_J辐射跃迁速率及荧光分支比, 同时得到了光学跃迁强度参数。     

Effect of heat treatment on photoluminescence behavior of BaMgAl10O17:Eu phosphors

The blue phosphor of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺ (BAM) powders were prepared by solid-state reaction. The thermal degradation of BAM phosphor significantly reduces the intensity of the blue emission. BAM is reduced by an amount of 50% after heating at around 800 °C for 1 h. Photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra showed that the blue emission of 450 nm peak decreased with increasing annealing temperature. The ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺ were observed at 590 and 615 nm emission lines over 1100 °C. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum also detected two signals of Eu²⁺, corresponding to g=3.7156(9) for 88 mT, and g=2.9507(9) for 133 mT. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum decreased the intensity of Eu²⁺ for 6977 eV with increasing annealing temperature, while high-energy peak of Eu³⁺ for 6984 eV was increased. The combined use of X-ray and neutron data by the Rietveld refinement appears to support that the secondary phase of EuMgAl₁₁O₁₉ magnetoplumbite structure in BAM may be formed by heat treatment.     

柔性Eu3+掺杂SiO2纳米纤维薄膜的制备及其发光性能

采用溶胶-凝胶法结合静电纺丝技术制备了柔性Eu³⁺掺杂SiO₂纤维薄膜, 采用SEM、XRD、FT-IR、TG和PL等测试方法对材料进行表征。Eu³⁺掺杂SiO₂纤维薄膜在热处理后纤维直径变小, 纤维表面平滑无粘连。通过控制升温速度, 纤维薄膜经热处理后仍具有较高的力学强度, 750℃热处理后其拉伸强度可达4.31 MPa, 经过多次弯曲仍能保持原样。在392.6 nm光源激发下, Eu³⁺掺杂SiO₂纤维薄膜在570~670 nm附近呈现出来自于⁵D₀→⁷F_J的发射峰。当Eu³⁺掺杂浓度为8mol%时, 经过750℃热处理后Eu³⁺掺杂SiO₂纤维薄膜的发光强度达到最大值。