Nd3+-doped LiYF4 thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Nd:LiYF₄ (YLF) thin films were prepared on CaF₂ or YLF substrates by pulsed laser deposition, using a KrF laser for ablation of Nd:LiYF₄ single-crystal targets. For 10 J/cm², 450 °C and about 10^-6 mbar pressure, transparent and crystalline, highly textured, YLF films were obtained, without oxyfluoride or YF₃ contamination. High surface roughness is shown by optical microscopy and interface ion diffusion between film and substrate is evidenced by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. Fluorescence properties of the films are quite similar to those of bulk Nd:YLF crystal, which confirms the pure YLF composition and shows good conservation of Nd³⁺ ion doping rate. PACS 81.15.Fg; 68.55.Jk; 78.55.Hx     

Upconverted 5d-4f luminescence from Er and Nd ions doped into fluoride hosts excited by ArF and KrF excimer lasers

We report on observation of upconverted VUV luminescence due to 5d-4f radiative transitions in Er³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions doped into some fluoride crystals, under excitation by ArF and KrF excimer lasers, respectively. Only spin-forbidden 5d-4f luminescence of Er³⁺ (at 165 nm) was detected from the LiYF₄:Er³⁺ crystal whereas both spin-forbidden (at 169 nm) and spin-allowed (at 160.5 nm) components are observed from the BaY₂F₈:Er³⁺ crystal, the latter being much weaker than in the case of one-photon excitation. Nd³⁺ 5d-4f luminescence at 180 and 173 nm has been detected from the LiYF₄:Nd³⁺ and LaF₃:Nd³⁺ crystals, respectively. The shift of short-wavelength edge of 5d-4f emission spectra towards longer wavelengths is observed under temperature increase from 15 to 293 K. The observed effects in the spectra of Er³⁺ and Nd³⁺ doped crystals were interpreted as a result of reabsorption of 5d-4f luminescence escaping from the bulk of the crystals.     

Infrared and Zeeman effect measurements of ferromagnetically coupled Nd ions in weakly doped LiYF4 crystals

Crystal-field infrared active excitations and photoluminescence of Nd³⁺ ions in weakly doped LiYF₄ have confirmed that the concentration dependent satellite lines accompanying the Nd³⁺ crystal-field optical transitions are due to four ferromagnetically coupled pairs of Nd³⁺ ions in undistorted Y³⁺ sites with the exchange energies J₁=0.9, J₂=1.6, J₃=3.1 and J₄=4.5 cm⁻¹, respectively. A linear Zeeman splitting of the Nd³⁺ ion ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_9/2 transition is observed and the g-factors (g_∥=0.2±0.1; g_⊥=0.97±0.01) associated with the ⁴F_3/2 lowest level are determined.     

Analysis of the optical spectrum of Ho3+ in LiYF4

The energy levels for Ho³⁺ in single crystal LiYF₄ from 0–21,300 cm^?1 have been determined from polarized absorption and fluorescence spectra using crystals at temperatures between 4 and 300°K. Energy level assignments were made initially by comparing the crystal spectra with energy levels calculated by using crystal field parameters interpolated from previously reported analyses of Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ in LiYF₄. The energy level scheme identifies energy levels in the 10 lowest J-multiplets and gives calculated energies for the next six higher J-multiplets. The crystal field parameters were varied to obtain a best fit between experimental and theoretical energies, and the final values B₂₀ = 410, B₄₀ = ? 615, B₄₄ = 819, B₆₀ = ? 27.9 and B₆₄ = 677 ± i32.8 cm^?1 give an r.m.s. fit of 2.78 cm^?1. The calculations were made by diagonalizing the crystal field Hamiltonian, H_x = Σ_kmB_kmC_km, in the space of ten lowest J-multiplets spanned by intermediate coupled free-ion wavefunctions calculated using the free-ion parameters of Carnall et al. for Ho in aqueous solution. The calculated g_∥ for the Γ_3.4 ground state of 13.63 compares favorably with a previously reported value of 13.3 ± 0.1.     

Absorption spectra and Zeeman effects of Tm3+ in CaF2

The absorption spectra of Tm³⁺ in CaF₂ were analyzed by the concentration series method at 4·2^°K. Systems of lines, belonging to Tm³⁺ion centers of different structure, are isolated from the general spectra. Some of structures of Tm³⁺ ion centers were made clear by studying optical Zeeman effects and a change of absorption lines during thermal treatment. The tetragonal crystal field parameters and g-value of the upper state are also discussed.     

Energy levels and crystal-field analysis of Tm in YAl3(BO3)4 crystals

The electronic structure of the Tm³⁺ in YAl₃(BO₃)₄ crystals has been investigated by means of low temperature absorption and emission spectroscopy in the 5000-30,000 cm⁻¹ range. The assignment of the lines composing the observed manifolds to transitions between the Stark levels of Tm³⁺ is complicated by the presence of extra features having different origins. The energy levels scheme of the doping ion has been compiled after a careful analysis of the spectra by reproducing the observed transitions by means of theoretical calculations based on a Hamiltonian, including the free ion and the crystal field (CF) terms. The agreement between experimental and calculated energy values was reasonably good, the overall r.m.s. deviation being 16 cm⁻¹. The resulting CF parameters have been tabulated and compared with those reported in literature for other rare earth ions doped in YAB. The analysis of trends observed along the lanthanide series evidences some inconsistencies and the necessity of a systematic investigation of these systems.     

Upconverted VUV luminescence of Nd and Er doped into LiYF4 crystals under XeF-laser excitation

The upconverted VUV (185 nm) and UV (230 and 260 nm) luminescence due to 5d-4f radiative transitions in Nd³⁺ ions doped into a LiYF₄ crystal has been obtained under excitation by 351/353 nm radiation from a XeF excimer laser. The maximum upconversion efficiency, defined as the ratio of intensity for 5d-4f luminescence to overall intensity for 5d-4f and 4f-4f luminescence from the ⁴D_3/2 Nd³⁺ level, has been estimated to be about 70% under optimal focusing conditions for XeF laser radiation. A redistribution of intensity between three main components of 5d-4f Nd³⁺ luminescence is observed under changing the excitation power density, which favors the most long-wavelength band (260 nm) at higher excitation density level. The effect is interpreted as being due to excited state absorption of radiation emitted. The upconverted VUV and UV luminescence from the high-lying ²F(2)_7/2 4f level of Er³⁺ doped into a LiYF₄ crystal has also been obtained under XeF-laser excitation the most intense line being at 280 nm from the spin-allowed transition to the ²H(2)_11/2 4f level of Er³⁺, but the efficiency of upconversion for Er³⁺ emission is low, less than 5%.     

XPS studies of the energy band structure of three Y3+-based fluoride compounds

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was applied to the study of the energy band structure of three Y³⁺-containing insulating crystals: YF₃, LiYF₄ and KYF₄. No features were found in the photoelectron spectra of YF₃ and LiYF₄ which may be related to the difference in behavior of the scintillation properties of these crystals doped with rare earth ions. Comparison of the photoelectron and luminescence spectra for a KYF₄ crystal, which possesses so-called crossluminescence, gave some indication for the existence of lattice relaxation in the vicinity of the long-lived K⁺ 3p hole.     

Luminescence properties of Tm co-doped Sr2Si5N8:Eu red phosphor

The Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺ phosphors, both undoped and doped with Tm³⁺, were synthesized by high temperature solid-state method. The XRD pattern shows that only Sr₂Si₅N₈ phase is formed whatever Tm³⁺ was doped or not. The peak positions of both phosphors are centered at 612 nm which is assigned to the 4f⁶5d→4f⁷ transition of Eu²⁺. It implies that the crystal field, which affects the 5d electron states of Eu²⁺, is not changed dramatically after the phosphor is doped with Tm³⁺. The afterglow time is about 10 min after Tm³⁺ ion is introduced into the phosphor. The concentration of Tm³⁺ has little influence on the afterglow time of the phosphor. The depths of trap energy level of the two phosphors were calculated based on the TL spectra. The depths of Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺ and Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺, Tm³⁺ are 1.75 and 1.01 eV, respectively.     

OSL, RL and TL characterization of rare-earth ion doped K2YF5: Application in dosimetry

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) properties of K₂YF₅ crystals singly doped with different concentrations of Tb³⁺ ions and doubly doped with Tb³⁺ and Ce³⁺ or Tb³⁺ and Dy³⁺ have been investigated for the first time. Radioluminescence spectra and OSL efficiency for stimulation with different wavelengths of light have been analyzed for each compound. Also, dosimetric characteristics of the most efficient composition, namely K₂YF₅:1 at.% Tb³⁺, have been studied. Finally, the OSL signal peculiarities for K₂YF₅:1 at.% Tb³⁺ have been compared to those of a commercial Al₂O₃:C dosimeter.     

Dielectric properties and temperature stability of BaTiO3 co-doped La2O3 and Tm2O3

The influence of La₂O₃ and Tm₂O₃ co-doping on the dielectric properties and the temperature stability of BaTiO₃ was investigated. BaTiO₃ ceramics were prepared with the compositional formula of (Ba_1−xLa_x)(Ti_1-x/4−yTm_y)O₃. La₂O₃ and Tm₂O₃ co-doping in BaTiO₃ mainly had effects on an increase in the dielectric constant and the temperature stability, respectively. The increase of La₂O₃ concentration and the decrease of Tm₂O₃ concentration in BaTiO₃ resulted in a decrease of lattice parameter and tetragonality because La³⁺ ion substituting for Ba site is smaller than Ba²⁺ ion and Tm³⁺ ion substituting for Ti site is larger than Ti⁴⁺ ion. With the increase of La₂O₃ and the decrease of Tm₂O₃, the dielectric constant of BaTiO₃ was enhanced in spite of the reduction of tetragonality. P-E hysteresis measurements revealed that this phenomenon was based on the improvement of remanent polarization with the increase of La₂O₃ concentration. The introduction of excess Tm₂O₃ in BaTiO₃ suppressed the grain growth and BaTiO₃ ceramics showed higher temperature stability due to the stable tetragonal structure and the small grain size with the increase of Tm₂O₃ concentration.     

Analysis of the ground configuration of Tm3+ in YVO4

An analysis has been made of the optical spectrum of Tm³⁺ in YVO₄ reported by K. D. Knoll. The approach taken was to describe the Tm³⁺ free ion as completely as possible and then to describe the effects of the crystal field on these levels. Parameters were obtained that gave an r.m.s. deviatioa of 10.6 cm^?1 in a least squares fit. In Knolls' earlier analysis, which did not describe the free ion adequately, several sets of parameters were given that are consistent with different portions of the spectrum. The results computed with our parameters gave a new interpretation of the ³F₄ and ³H₅ multiplets and gave g_∥ factors in good agreement with the measurements. The efiects of the hyperfine interaction and the spin-crystal field interaction on the energy levels resulted in displacements of smaller than 0.1 cm^?1.     

Impurity effect on the Raman spectra of Sr0.6Ba0.4Nb2O6

Impurity effect on the rare earth ion doped Sr_0.6Ba_0.4Nb₂O₆(SBN40) was studied at room temperature. Doping the rare earth ions of Pr³⁺ or Nd³⁺ changed the Raman profile: spectral broadening, central frequency shifts and relative intensity decreasing. Two reasons are considered according to the ferroelectric and optical properties of the rare earth ion doped SBN40: impurity-induced crystal disorder and the crystal structure change. SBN40 is the general disorder crystal and the disorder which is enhanced by doping the rare earth ion is especially strong along the x?y plane of the material compared with that along the polar C-axis.     

Spectral properties of Nd-doped Sr3Ga2Ge4O14 crystal

Neodymium doped strontium gallogermanate crystals were grown successfully by the Bridgman technique. The linear thermal expansion coefficients for the c- and a-axes were measured as 5.8 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ and 6.5 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹. Absorption spectra, and fluorescence spectra, as well as fluorescence decay curves of Nd³⁺-doped Sr₃Ga₂Ge₄O₁₄ crystal, have been recorded at room temperature and used to calculate the absorption and stimulated emission cross-sections. Based on the Judd-Ofelt theory, three intensity parameters were obtained. The luminescent quantum efficiency of the ⁴F_3/2 level was determined to be approximately 73.8% for this material. Compared with other Nd³⁺-doped laser crystals, Nd³⁺-doped Sr₃Ga₂Ge₄O₁₄ crystal displays special laser properties due to its disorder structure.     

Luminescence study of the 4f5d configuration of Nd in LiYF4, LiLuF4 and BaY2F8 crystals

Ultraviolet fluorescence of Nd³⁺ ions induced by triphotonic excitation process was studied in Nd-doped LiYF₄, LiLuF₄ and BaY₂F₈ crystals using a technique of time-resolved spectroscopy. The observed ultraviolet luminescence was due to transitions between the bottom of 4f²5d configuration and 4f³ states of Nd³⁺ ions. Narrow emission lines superposed to the broadband emissions were observed. A detailed analysis of luminescence spectrum revealed that the narrow emissions are due to parity and spin allowed radiative transitions from the Stark levels of ⁴K_11/2(5d) state created by the electrostatic interaction between the 5d electron and the two electrons of the 4f² configuration. The narrow emissions are related to the high spin state (S=3/2) which gives f-f characteristics to the f-d broadband emissions. The narrow emissions superposed to the wide emission correspond to 18%, 34% and 43% of the integrated broadband emission at 262 nm observed in LiYF₄, LiLuF₄ and BaY₂F₈ crystals, respectively. Although the 5d-4f² interaction is observed to be weaker than 5d-crystal field interaction, it is stronger enough to select only the radiative transitions from 4f²5d configuration to 4f³ states that preserves the total spin S=3/2.     

High-temperature VUV spectroscopy of KYF4 crystals doped with Nd3+, Er3+ and Tm3+ ions

Thermal quenching of 5d-4f luminescence from Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions doped into KYF₄ crystals has been investigated in the temperature range up to ∼750 K where this luminescence is completely quenched. The obtained temperatures of thermal quenching (T_q) are ∼270, 495, 450 K for Nd³⁺, Er³⁺, Tm³⁺, respectively. At high temperatures, thermal quenching of 5d-4f luminescence from Nd³⁺ and Er³⁺ is accompanied by the appearance of 4f-4f luminescence from the lower-energy 4f levels. It has been shown that the dominating mechanism of thermal quenching for Nd³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions is thermally stimulated non-radiative transitions (intersystem crossing) from the 5d states to lower-energy 4f levels, namely ²G(2)_9/2 and ²F(2)_7/2, respectively, whereas for the Tm³⁺ ion, thermally stimulated ionization of 5d electrons to the conduction band states is responsible for thermal quenching of 5d-4f luminescence. The energy gap between the lowest Tm³⁺ 5d level and the bottom of the KYF₄ conduction band has been estimated to be 0.66 eV.     

Optical absorption spectrum and local symmetry of Tm ion in TmAl3(BO3)4 crystal

With the help of group theory analysis of absorption spectra of the transition ³H₆ → ³F₃ of Tm³⁺ ion in TmAl₃(BO₃)₄ crystal, measured at several temperatures from 1.8 till 293 K, it has been shown, that the local symmetry of the Tm³⁺ environment is C₃ and it decreases to C₁ at a low temperature. Effective selection rules and polarizations of lines at high enough temperatures (when the line-width is larger than the splitting in C₃ symmetry) have been obtained.     

White up-conversion emission in Ho/Tm/Yb tri-doped glass ceramics embedding BaF2 nanocrystals

Ho³⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ tri-doped glass ceramics with white light emitting have been developed and demonstrated. Pumped by 980 nm laser diode (LD), intensive red, green and blue up-conversions (UC) were obtained. The green emission is assigned to Ho³⁺ ion and the blue emission is assigned to Tm³⁺ ion, whereas the red emission is the combination contribution of the Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions. The RGB intensities could be adjusted by tuning the rare-earth ion concentration and pump power intensity. Thus, multicolor of the luminescence, including perfect white light with CIE-X=0.329 and CIE-Y=0.342 in the 1931 CIE chromaticity diagram can be obtained in 0.15 Ho³⁺/0.2Tm³⁺/3Yb³⁺ tri-doped glass ceramics embedding BaF₂ nanocrystals pumped by a single infrared laser diode source of 980 nm at 500 mW. The up-conversion luminescence mechanism of Yb³⁺ sensitize Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions and the energy transfer from Ho³⁺ to Tm³⁺ in oxy-fluoride silicate glass ceramics were analyzed.     

Vacuum ultraviolet luminescence from a micro-pulling-down method grown Nd:(La0.9,Ba0.1)F2.9

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) luminescence from a Nd³⁺:(La_1−x,Ba_x)F_3−x (x=0.1) and a Nd³⁺:LaF₃ single crystal grown by the micro-pulling-down method modified for fluoride crystal growth is discussed. Emission resulting from excitation with 157 nm pulses of a F₂ laser and by 290 nm femtosecond pulses of a Ti:sapphire laser show that the luminescence spectral and temporal characteristics are similar for both excitation cases and that they have good prospects as a VUV laser material.     

Multiphonon relaxation of optical excitations in CsCdBr<Subscript>3</Subscript>:Pr<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and LiYF<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Nd<Superscript>3+</Superscript> crystals

The technique of calculation of the n-phonon transition rates between electronic sublevels of impurity rare earth ions in dielectric crystals is developed in the case when n>2. The n-phonon transition probabilities are calculated according to the 1st and 2nd orders of perturbation theory. The Hamiltonian of the electron-phonon interaction is constructed in the framework of the exchange charge model and developed as series in relative displacements of the rare earth ion and ligands. The contribution of the lattice anharmonicity on the probabilities of n-phonon transitions is taken into account. On the basis of the developed technique, the nonradiative relaxation rates of ⁴ G _7/2 multiplet of Nd³⁺ ions in LiYF₄:Nd³⁺crystal and ³P₁ multiplet of Pr³⁺ ions in CsCdBr₃:Pr³⁺ crystal were computed. The results of our calculations show that the 2nd order terms in the expressions for the probabilities studied here are comparable with, and in some cases prevail over the 1st order terms. An account of lattice anharmonicity in case of LiYF₄:Nd³⁺ crystal substantially modifies the corresponding multiphonon relaxation rates. The calculated nonradiative relaxation rates for both crystals agree well with the experimental data.