The use of Pr3+co-doping for great enhancement of mid-infrared(mid-IR) emissions at 2.9 μm and 2.4 μm is investigated in the Ho3+/Pr3+co-doped LiYF4 crystals.With the introduction of Pr3+ions,the fluorescence lifetime of Ho3+:5I7 level is 2.15 ms for Ho3+/Pr3+co-doped crystal,and the lifetime for Ho3+singly doped crystal is 17.70 ms,while the lifetime of Ho3+:5I6 level decreases slightly from 2.11 ms for Ho3+:LiYF4 to 1.83 ms for Ho3+/Pr3+:LiYF4.It is also demonstrated that the introduction of Pr3+greatly increases the mid-infrared emission of Ho3+:5I6 →5I7 which depopulates the Ho3+:5I7 level,while it has little influence on the Ho3+:5I6 level,which is beneficial for greater population inversion and laser operation.The analysis on the decay curves of the 2.0 μm emissions in the framework of the Inokuti-Hirayama model indicates that the energy transfer from Ho3+to Pr3+is mainly from electric dipole-dipole interaction.The calculated efficiency of energy transfer from Ho3+:5I7 to Pr3+:3F2 level is 87.53% for Ho3+/Pr3+(1.02%/0.22%) co-doped sample.Our results suggest that the Ho3+/Pr3+co-doped LiYF4 single crystals may have potential applications in mid-IR lasers.
The LiYF4 single crystals singly doped Ho3＋ and co-doped Ho3＋, Pr3＋ ions were grown by a modified Bridgman method. The Judd-Ofelt strength parameters （Ω2, Ω4, Ω6） of No3＋ were calculated according to the absorption spectra and the Judd-Ofelt theory, by which the radiative transition probabilities （A）, fluorescence branching ratios （β） and radiative lifetime （τ rad） were obtained. The radiative lifetimes of 5/6 and 5/7 levels in Ho3＋ （1 mol%）：LiYF4 are 10.89 and 20.19 ms, respectively, while 9.77 and 18.50 ms in Ho3＋/pr3＋ doped crystals. Hence, the τ rad of 5/7 level decreases significantly by introduction of Pr3＋ into Ho3＋：LiYF4 crystal which is beneficial to the emission of 2.9 μm. The maximum emission cross section of Ho3＋：LiYF4 crystal located at 2.05 μm calculated by McCumber theory is 0.51 ×10-20 cm2 which is compared with other crystals. The maximum emission cross section at 2948 nm in Ho3＋/pr3＋ co-doped LiYF4 crystal obtained by Fuchtbauer- Ladenburg theory is 0.68 × 10-20 cm2, and is larger than the value of 0.53 × 10-20 cm2 in Ho3＋ singly doped LiYF4 crystal. Based on the absorption and emission cross section spectra, the gain cross section spectra were calculated. In the Ho3- ions singly doped LiYF4 crystal, the gain cross sections for 2.05 μm infrared emission becomes positive once the population inversion level reaches 30%. It means that the pump threshold for obtaining 2.05 μm laser is probably lower which is an advantage for Ho3＋-doped LiYF4 2.05 μm infrared lasers. The calculated gain cross section for 2.9 μm mid-infrared emission does not become positive until the population inversion level reaches 40% in Ho3＋/pr3＋：LiYF4 crystal, but 50% in Ho3＋ singly doped LiYF4 crystal, indicating that a low pumping threshold is achieved for the H03＋：5/6 → 5/7 laser operation with the introduction of Pr3＋ ions. It was also demonstrated that Pr3＋ ion can deplete rapidly the lower laser Ho3＋：5/7 level and has influence on t
Mid-infrared（MIR） emissions of 2.4 and 3.5 μm from Tm3＋：LiYF4 single crystals attributed to3H4 →3H5 and3H5 →3F4 transitions as well as MIR emissions of 4.2,4.3,and 4.5 μm from Nd3＋：LiYF4 lasers attributed to4I15/2 →4I13/2,4I13/2 →4I11/2,and4I11/2 →4I9/2 transitions,respectively,are observed.LiYF4 single crystals possess high transmittance of over 85% in the 2.5-6 μm range.The large emission crosssections of Tm-doped crystals at 2.4 μm（1.9×10-20cm2） and Nd-doped crystals at 4.2 μm（0.84×10-20 cm2） as well as the high rare-earth doping concentrations,excellent optical transmission,and chemicalphysical properties of the resultant samples indicate that Nd3＋and Tm3＋singly doped crystals may be promising materials for application in MIR lasers.
Laser crystals of LiYF4 (LYF) singly doped with Er3+ in 2.0% and co-doped with Er3+/Yb3+ in about 2.0%/1.0% molar fraction in the raw composition are grown by a vertical Bridgman method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and decay curves are measured to investigate the structural and luminescent properties of the crystals. Compared with the Er3+ singly doped sample, obviously enhanced emission at 1.5 μm wavelength and green and red up-conversion emissions from Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped crystal are observed under the excitation of 980 nm laser diode. Meanwhile, the emission at 2.7 μm wavelength from Er3+ singly doped crystal is reduced. The fluorescence decay time ranging from 18.60 ms for Er3+ singly doped crystal to 23.01 ms for Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped crystal depends on the ionic concentration. The luminescent mechanisms for the Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped crystals are analyzed, and the possible energy transfer processes from Yb3+ to Er3+ are proposed.
Super-broadband near-infrared(NIR)emission from 1100 nm to 1600 nm is observed in Bi-doped titanate glasses at the excitation of 808 nm laser diode(LD).The effects of Bi content on the optical spectra are investigated.It is also found that the Bi-related emission intensity can be enhanced by Yb3+co-doping at the excitation of 980 nm LD.It should be ascribed to the energy transfer from Yb3+to active Bi ions.The energy transfer processes are studied based on the Inokuti-Hirayama(I-H)model,and the energy transfer of electric dipole-dipole interaction is confirmed to be dominant in Bi/Yb co-doped glasses.
Lithium lutetium fluoride(LiLuF4) single crystals doped with different Dy3+ ion concentrations were grown by Bridgman method. The Judd-Ofelt(J-O) strength parameters(Ω2, Ω4, Ω6) of Dy3+ in LiLuF4 crystal are calculated according to the measured absorption spectra and the J-O theory, by which the asymmetry of the Dy3+:LiLuF4 single crystal and the possibility of attaining stimulated emission from 4F9/2 level are analyzed. The capability of the Dy3+:LiLuF4 crystal in generating white light by simultaneous blue and yellow emissions under excitation with ultraviolet light is produced. The effects of excitation wavelength and doping concentration on chromaticity coordinates and photoluminescence intensity are also investigated. Favorable CIE coordinates, x=0.319 3 and y=0.349 3, can be obtained for Dy3+ ion in 2.701% molar doping concentration under excitation of 350 nm.
A Dy3＋-doped LiYF4 single crystal capable of generating white light by simultaneous blue and yellow light emission of phosphorescent centers is produced. Chromaticity coordinates and photoluminescence intensity vary with excitation wavelength. Under 350, 365, and 388 nm excitation, the crystal shows excellent white light emission. The most efficient wavelength for white light is 388 nm. The CIE coordina.tes are x=0.316 and y =0.321, and the color temperature （Tc） is 6 368 K. These results indicate that the studied crystal is a potential candidate for ultraviolet light-excited white light-emitting diodes.
