First-principles study of the local structure and crystal field of Yb2＋ in sodium and potassium halides

The local coordination structures around the doping Yb 2+ ions in sodium and potassium halides were calculated by using the first-principles supercell model.Both the cases with and without the charge compensation vacancy in the local environment of the doping Yb 2+ were calculated to study the effect of the doping on the local coordination structures of Yb 2+.Using the calculated local structures,we obtained the crystal-field parameters for the Yb 2+ ions doped in sodium and potassium halides by a method based on the combination of the quantum-chemical calculations and the effective Hamiltonian method.The calculated crystal-field parameters were analyzed and compared with the fitted results.     

从头计算法计算Yb3+掺杂钽酸盐的晶体场参数和能级结构

介绍了一种基于从头计算的DV-Xα方法和有效哈密顿量模型,它可以计算晶体中掺杂离子的晶体场参数和旋轨耦合参数,尤其适合计算低对称性的晶体.对于低对称性的晶体,参数的数目比能级的数目多,因此通过实验能级拟合确定所有的参数不太准确,而从头计算法可以准确地确定所有的晶体场参数和旋轨耦合参数.首先用这种模型计算了Yb3+掺杂GdTaO4晶体中的晶体场参数和旋轨耦合参数,然后给出了Yb3+在GdTaO4中的能级结构,并分析了Yb3+:GdTaO4的发射谱形成一个连续的发射带.这有利于激光的调谐和锁模激光输出,预言了Yb3+:GdTaO4有望成为新型全固态超短脉冲激光工作物质.同样用这种模型分别计算了Yb3+掺杂YTaO4和ScTaO4中的晶体场参数和旋轨耦合参数,并给出了Yb3+在YTaO4和ScTaO4中的能级结构,得到了与Yb3+:GdTaO4晶体类似的结论.     

From optical spectroscopy to a concentration quenching model and a theoretical approach to laser optimization for Yb3+-doped YLiF4 crystals

A spectroscopic characterization was carried out to identify crystal-field levels for magnetic-dipole transitions of Yb³⁺ ions located in the Y³⁺ dodecahedral S₄ crystallographic site in YLiF₄ (YLF) crystals which were grown either by the Czochralski technique or by the laser heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique. The concentration dependence of the measured decay time of the ²F_5/2 excited level of Yb³⁺ was analysed in order to understand relevant concentration quenching mechanisms. Under Yb³⁺ ion infrared pumping, self-trapping and up-conversion non-radiative energy transfer to trace rare-earth impurities (Er³⁺, Tm³⁺) has been observed over the visible region and interpreted by a limited-diffusion process within the Yb³⁺ doping ion subsystem to the impurities. The principal parameters useful for a theoretical approach for potential laser applications of Yb³⁺-doped YLiF₄ crystals have also been given.     

Theoretical and comparative investigations of Yb ion in MWO4 and M′MoO4 scheelites crystals (M=Sr, Pb, Ca, Ba) and (M′=Sr, Pb, Ca, Cd)

The crystal-field model is applied to a series of scheelites crystals (CaWO₄, SrWO₄, PbWO₄, BaWO₄, CdMoO₄, CaMoO₄, SrMoO₄ and PbMoO₄) doped with the Yb³⁺ ion. The calculated crystal-field parameters present a general trend of variation with M²⁺ ionic radius of the host cation. The maximum splitting ΔE of the ²F_7/2 manifold of the Yb³⁺ ion is then obtained as a function of N_V crystal-field strength parameters. The agreement between experimental results and theoretical predictions for all investigated systems is very satisfactory. The crystal-field effects are very important for the prediction of emission energies of the Yb³⁺ ion in different scheelites.     

Theoretical Explanation of the Optical and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectral Data for Trivalent Ytterbium Ions in β-Lead Fluoride

Six crystal-field energy levels and three electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data [g factor and hyperfine structure constants A(¹⁷¹Yb³⁺) and A(¹⁷³Yb³⁺)] for trivalent ytterbium (Yb³⁺) ions in the cubic β-lead fluoride (β-PbF₂) crystal are calculated by using a diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. In the method, the Zeeman and hyperfine interaction terms are added to the Hamiltonian in the conventional diagonalization method, and so the optical and EPR data can be calculated in a unified way. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values, and the signs of constants A(¹⁷¹Yb³⁺) and A(¹⁷³Yb³⁺) are determined. The results are discussed.     

Tm3+/Yb3+共掺碲酸盐玻璃的近红外发光及能量传递机理

采用高温熔融法制备了组分为TeO₂-ZnO-Na₂O的Tm³⁺离子单掺和Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺共掺碲酸盐玻璃,应用Judd-Ofelt理论计算分析了玻璃样品的强度参量Ω_t(t=2, 4, 6),自发辐射跃迁几率A,荧光分支比β和荧光辐射寿命τ_rad等光谱参量,测量得到了不同Yb³⁺离子掺杂浓度下玻璃样品的Tm³⁺离子上转换发光谱.结果显示,在980 nm泵浦光激励下玻璃样品发射出强烈的近红外上转换荧光.对Tm³⁺离子上转换发光分析表明,强烈的Tm³⁺离子近红外上转换发光主要来自于Yb³⁺/Yb³⁺离子间的共振能量传递以及基于单声子和双声子辅助的Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺离子间的非共振能量传递过程,并进一步计算得到了声子贡献比和能量传递系数.最后,计算分析了Tm³⁺:³F₄→³H₆能级间跃迁的1.8 μm波段吸收截面、受激发射截面和增益系数.研究表明,Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺共掺TeO₂-ZnO-Na₂O玻璃可以作为近红外波段固体激光器的潜在增益基质.     

Crystal field analysis of Er in Sc2O3 transparent ceramics

A crystal field investigation of Er³⁺-doped Sc₂O₃ transparent ceramics is presented.The established energy level diagram is analyzed with crystal-field Hamiltonian of C₂ symmetry including J-mixing effect. Very satisfactory correlations were obtained between 53 calculated and experimental Stark energy levels, with an rms of 7.7 cm⁻¹. These results are compared with those reported for other rare earth ions in the same host and with Er³⁺ ions in other sesquioxides. The concordance between the crystal-field strength parameters indicates the consistence of our analysis. Furthermore, based on the extended electrostatic point charge model, a theoretical trend is proposed for rare earth ions in Sc₂O₃ in comparison with Y₂O₃. Based on this trend, very satisfactory results are obtained for Yb³⁺ ion in Sc₂O₃.     

Study of the Defect Structure and Crystal-Field Parameters of α-Al2O3:Yb3+

The methods currently used for studying the defect structure of laser host crystals doped with transition metal or rare-earth ions have several drawbacks or limitations. This study proposes an alternative approach for obtaining optimized impurity structures using molecular dynamics calculation in conjunction with the superposition model. This new approach is specifically applied to a system named α-Al₂O₃:Yb³⁺, in which the simulated defect structure is used to fit the superposition model parameters directly onto the observed energy levels. Such an approach provides predicted values of crystal-field parameters, Zeeman splitting g-factor, and hyperfine structure constants. Moreover, the C_3v site symmetry is found to be a good approximation for the actual C₃ site of Yb³⁺, as doped in an α-Al₂O₃ crystal.     

Analysis on the optical properties for the ytterbium doped silica glasses prepared by laser sintering technology

The paper demonstrates the optical properties of the ytterbium doped silica glasses that were fabricated by laser sintering technology combined with liquid phase doping method, and analyzed the influence of the fabricated process on the formation of Yb²⁺. The spectral parameters and laser performance parameters were also calculated and analyzed. The results indicate that the formation of Yb²⁺ can be effectively restrained through the optimized preparation process. The prepared ytterbium doped silica glass presents typical absorption and emission cross sections of Yb³⁺, and possesses attractive laser performance parameters. The material would have potential applications for the gain medium of large mode area photonic crystal fiber lasers.     

Theoretical calculations of the optical band positions and spin-Hamiltonian parameters for Yb at the tetragonal Y site of KY3F10 crystal

The six optical band positions and six spin-Hamiltonian parameters [g factors g_∥, g_⊥ and hyperfine structure constants A_∥(¹⁷¹Yb³⁺), A_⊥(¹⁷¹Yb³⁺), A_∥(¹⁷³Yb³⁺), A_⊥(¹⁷³Yb³⁺)] for Yb³⁺ ion at the tetragonal Y³⁺ site of KY₃F₁₀ crystal are calculated from a diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. In the method, the Hamiltonian of energy matrix contains the free-ion, crystal-field interaction, Zeeman (or magnetic) interaction and hyperfine interaction terms and so a 14×14 complete energy matrix for 4f¹³ ion in tetragonal crystal-field and under an external magnetic field is constructed. Diagonalizing the energy matrix, these optical and EPR spectral data are calculated together and the calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. The signs of hyperfine structure constants A_∥, A_⊥ for the isotopes ¹⁷¹Yb³⁺ and ¹⁷³Yb³⁺ in KY₃F₁₀ are suggested. The results are discussed.     

Spectroscopic investigations of OH− influence on near-infrared fluorescence quenching of Yb3+/Tm3+ co-doped sodium-metaphosphate glasses

Energy transfer processes were studied in two sets of Yb³⁺ and Tm³⁺ co-doped sodium-metaphosphate glasses, prepared in air and nitrogen atmospheres. Using Förster, Dexter, and Miyakawa theoretical models, the energy transfer parameters were calculated. The main ion–ion energy transfer processes analyzed were energy migration among Yb³⁺ ions, cross-relaxations between Yb³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions, and interactions with OH^? radicals. The results indicated that Yb→Tm energy transfer favors 1.8 μm emissions, and there is no evidence of concentration quenching up to 2% Tm₂O₃ doping. As expected, samples prepared in nitrogen atmosphere present higher fluorescence quantum efficiency than those prepared in air, and this feature is specially noted in the near-infrared region, where the interaction with the OH^? radicals is more pronounced.     

Theoretical investigation of a single erbium center in hexagonal gallium nitride

A theoretical energy-level analysis was based on parametric Hamiltonian for the 4f¹¹ electronic configuration of Er³⁺ ions in C_3v center, and it permitted a phenomenological characterization of crystal-field (CF) Hamiltonian parameters. This characterization allowed us to calculate the energy of the missing stark levels of the ⁴I_15/2 and ⁴I_13/2 states and to confirm the presence of a single emission center with C_3v symmetry. The calculated CF and strength parameters are compared with those obtained for Sm³⁺, Pr³⁺ and Yb³⁺ ions in the same host and with Er³⁺ in other isostructural hosts.     

Theoretical investigation of the optical and EPR parameters for VOion in some complexes

The molecular orbital coefficients and the EPR parameters of trisodium citrate dihydrate, sodium hydrogen oxalate monohydrate, potassium d-gluconate monohydrate and L-Alanine vanadyl complexes are calculated theoretically. Two d-d transition spectra and EPR parameters for the VO²⁺ complex are calculated theoretically by using crystal-field theory. The calculated g and A paramaters have indicated that paramagnetic center is axially symmetric. Having the relations of g_∥〈g_⊥〈g_e and A_∥〉A_⊥ for VO²⁺ ions, it can be concluded that VO²⁺ ions are located in distorted octahedral sites (C_4v) elongated along the z-axis and the ground state of the paramagnetic electron is d_xy.     

Nd crystal-field study of weakly doped Nd1−xCaxMnO3

Nd³⁺ crystal-field excitations in Nd_1−xCa_xMnO₃ (x=0.025, 0.05 and 0.1) single crystals are studied via infrared transmission as a function of temperature and external magnetic field. We report excitations associated with Nd³⁺ sites as detected in NdMnO₃ and excitations due to Ca doping. The latter reveal phase separation between the usual A-type antiferromagnetic states and the insulating canted (ferromagnetic) spin states in the vicinity of doped Ca²⁺ ions. Both Nd³⁺ crystal-field levels could be described using calculated parameters for NdMnO₃. Also, while oxygen stoichiometry and coherent Jahn–Teller distortions seem not to be affected by Ca doping, increased absorption bandwidths characterize the doped crystals.     

Magneto-optical spectroscopy and optical detection of EPR spectra of Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript> paramagnetic centers with cubic symmetry in single crystals <Emphasis Type="Italic">Me</Emphasis>F<Subscript>2</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Me</Emphasis> = Cd,Ca, Pb)

Cubic paramagnetic centers formed by Yb³⁺ impurity ions in fluorite-type crystals MeF₂ (Me = Cd, Ca, Pb) have been investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance, magnetic circular dichroism, magnetic circular polarization of luminescence, Zeeman splitting of optical absorption and luminescence lines, and optical detection of electron paramagnetic resonance. The g factors of the ²Γ₇ state in the excited multiplet ² F _5/2 of Yb³⁺ ions in Me F₂ crystals, the hyperfine interaction constant ¹⁷¹ A (¹⁷¹Yb) for the excited multiplet ² F _5/2 in the CaF₂ crystal, and the energies and symmetry properties of all energy levels of Yb³⁺ ions in MeF₂ crystals are determined. The crystal-field parameters for the crystals under investigation are calculated.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of Gd6MoO12:Yb3+, Er3+ phosphor with enhanced photoluminescence by Li+ doping

Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ co-doped Gd₆MoO₁₂ and Yb³⁺/Er³⁺/Li⁺ tri-doped Gd₆MoO₁₂ phosphors were prepared by adjusting the annealing temperature via the high temperature solid-state method. Under the excitation of 980 nm semiconductor, the upconversion luminescence properties were investigated and discussed. In the experimental process, we get the optimum Yb³⁺ concentration and the concentration quench effect will happen while the concentration extends the given region. According to the Yb³⁺ concentration quenching effects, the critical distance between Yb³⁺ ions had been calculated. The measured UC luminescence exhibited a strong red emission near 660 nm and green emission at 530 nm and 550 nm, which are due to the transitions of Er³⁺(⁴F_9/2, ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2) → Er³⁺(⁴I_15/2). Then the effect of excitation power density in different regions on the upconversion mechanisms was investigated and the calculated results demonstrate that the green and red upconversion is a two-photon process. A possible mechanism was discussed. After Li⁺ ions mixing, the upconversion emission enhanced largely, and the optimum Li⁺ concentration was obtained while fixed the Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ on the above optimum concentration. This enhancement owns to the decrease of the local symmetry around Er³⁺ after Li⁺ ions doping into the system. This result indicates that Li⁺ is a promising candidate for improving luminescence in some case.     

Visible upconversion emission and non-radiative direct Yb to Er energy transfer processes in nanocrystalline ZrO2:Yb,Er

Wide band gap Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ codoped ZrO₂ nanocrystals have been synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. Under 967 nm excitation strong green and red upconversion emission is observed for several Er³⁺ to Yb³⁺ ions concentration ratios. A simple microscopic rate equation model is used to study the effects of non-radiative direct Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ energy transfer processes on the visible and near infrared fluorescence decay trends of both Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ ions. The microscopic rate equation model takes into account the crystalline phase as well as the size of nanocrystals. Nanocrystals phase and size were estimated from XRD patterns. The rate equation model succeeds to fit simultaneously all visible and near infrared fluorescence decay profiles. The dipole-dipole interaction parameters that drive the non-radiative energy transfer processes depend on doping concentration due to crystallite phase changes. In addition the non-radiative relaxation rate (⁴I_11/2→⁴I_13/2) is found to be greater than that estimated by the Judd-Ofelt parameters due to the action of surface impurities. Results suggest that non-radiative direct Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ energy transfer processes in ZrO₂:Yb,Er are extremely efficient.     

Synthesis and up-conversion luminescence properties of Ho3+, Yb3+ co-doped BaLa2ZnO5

Up-conversion phosphors BaLa₂ZnO₅ co-doped with Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺ were synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction method. The phase composition of the phosphors was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The structure of BaLa₂ZnO₅: 0.75% Ho/15% Yb phosphor was refined by the Rietveld method and results showed the decreased unit cell parameters and cell volume after doping Ho³⁺ and Yb³⁺, indicating Ho³⁺ and Yb³⁺ have successfully replaced La³⁺. Under the excitation of 980 nm diode laser, the strong green and weak red up-conversion emissions centered at 548 nm, 664 nm and 758 nm were observed, which originating from ⁵S₂, ⁵F₂→⁵I₈, ⁵F₄→⁵I₈ and ⁵S₂, ⁵F₂→⁵I₇ transitions of Ho³⁺ ions, respectively. The optimum doping concentrations of Ho³⁺ and Yb³⁺ were determined to be 0.75% and 15%, and the corresponding Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates are calculated to be x=0.298 and y=0.692. The related UC mechanism of Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped BaLa₂ZnO₅ depending on pump power was studied in detail. The results indicate that BaLa₂ZnO₅: Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺ can be an effective candidate for up-conversion yellowish-green light emitter.     

Crystal growth and spectroscopic characterization of Yb:LiTaO3

Spectroscopic properties are presented for Yb³⁺ incorporated into single crystals of LiTaO₃ grown by the top-seeded solution growth method. From an analysis of the absorption and fluorescence spectra, we are able to determine the Stark-level components of the ²F_7/2 (the ground-state multiplet manifold) and the ²F_5/2 (the excited-state multiplet manifold of Yb³⁺ (4f¹³)). The room-temperature fluorescence lifetime of ²F_5/2 is 678 μs as measured on a thin sample to reduce possibilities for reabsorption. Spectral comparisons of Yb³⁺-doped LiTaO₃ and LiNbO₃ are drawn. The crystal-field splitting of Yb³⁺(4f¹³) in both crystal hosts is modeled using a set of crystal-field splitting parameters, B_nm, determined from a recent spectroscopic analysis of Er³⁺(4f¹¹) in LiNbO₃. Without adjustment of the B_nm parameters, the model predicts the Stark-level energy and the symmetry label for each level in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. Less photorefractive than its niobate cousin, LiTaO₃ has potential for use in numerous integrated electro-optical circuits and devices.     

Origin of the 330 nm absorption band and effect of doping Yb in LiYF4 crystals

The electronic structures of LiYF₄ (YLF) crystals containing F color center (YLF-F) and Yb doped YLF crystals (Yb³⁺:YLF, Yb²⁺:YLF) are systematically studied within the framework of the density functional theory. The calculated results indicate that the 330 nm absorption band originates from the F center in YLF crystals. Thus the doping of Yb³⁺ can weaken the 330 nm absorption band by competing with F vacancies in capturing free electrons arising after γ-irradiation and change to Yb². By analyzing the lattice relaxation and the electronic structure of YLF containing Yb²⁺, we can reasonably believe that once Yb²⁺ is formed in YLF crystal, its compensating hole will turn out to be shared by two F⁻ nearest to Yb²⁺ forming a diatomic fluoride molecular ion () perturbed by Yb²⁺, or to say V_F color center. According to the molecular-orbital linear combination of atomic orbital (MO-LCAOs) theory, compared to the alkali halides, e.g. LiF, the in V_F center in LiYF₄ peaks at about 340 nm, which is in agreement with the experimental results.