Fluorescence properties of divalent and trivalent europium ions in CdWO4 single crystals grown by the Bridgman method

Optical absorption,excitation,and fluorescence were investigated in Eu ion-doped CdWO4 single crystal grown by a modified Bridgman method.The results indicate that Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions coexist in CdWO4 crystal and an energy transfer occurs between these Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions.When the crystal is excited by 266-nm light,the energy corresponding to the 4f65d to 8S7/2 transition of Eu2+ ions results in the excitation of the Eu3+ ions to the 5DJ level.The effect on fluorescence of annealing in oxygen at various temperatures was investigated.The excitation intensity of Eu2+ ions at 266 nm decreases as annealing temperature increases from 300 K to 1073 K,but it remains at a certain equilibrium level when the annealing temperature is further increased.     

Tm~(3+) and Nd~(3+) singly doped LiYF_4 single crystals with 3-5 μm mid-infrared luminescence

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.