Spectroscopic analysis of Pr3+:CaYAlO4 crystal

The polarized absorption, emission spectra and decay time measurements of Pr³⁺-doped CaYAlO₄ single crystal have been performed at room temperature. Based on the Judd–Ofelt theory, the spectroscopic parameters \(\Upomega_{t} (t = 2,4,6)\) , radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes and branching ratios were obtained. The stimulated emission cross-section, fluorescence lifetimes and the quantum efficiency of the promising laser transition were also calculated and compared with other reported crystals. The results show that Pr³⁺:CaYAlO₄ is a promising candidate for visible solid-state laser emission.     

Diode-pumped Yb3+:KYF4 femtosecond laser

Passive mode locking of a diode-pumped Yb(3+):KYF(4) laser is demonstrated using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. A high-stability, transform-limited pulse train with a repetition rate of 57 MHz is generated. Solitonlike pulses with maximum average output power of 250 mW, minimum pulse duration of 170 fs, and rms time jitter of 360 fs were obtained.     

YPO4：Pr^3＋发光的浓度和温度特性

选择激发YPO4：Pr^3 中^Pr^3离子的^3Po级级,测量了系列浓度样品不同温度下的发射光谱及^3Po与^1D2能级的发光衰减曲线,讨论了613．2nm发射光谱线的来源问题,确认是Pr^3 离子的^1D2Г3）→^3H4(Г5）的发射。研究了Pr^3 离子^3P0与^D2能级不同的浓度猝灭关系,并用静态模型对^D2衰减曲线进行了拟合,结果显示^1D2能级发光发生浓度猝来的原因主要是相邻中心的偶极－四极相互作用引起的交叉弛豫。     

Optical properties of Pr3+-doped SrWO4 crystal

The polarized absorption and emission spectra of Pr³⁺ ions in SrWO₄ single crystals were investigated at room temperature. The standard and modified Judd–Ofelt theories have been applied to analyze the polarized absorption spectra to determine the spectroscopic parameters, including the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters Ω_t (t=2,4,6), radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes and branching ratios. The stimulated emission cross sections and fluorescence lifetimes of the promising laser level were obtained. PACS 78.55.Hx; 42.70.Hj; 78.20.-e     

Spectroscopic properties of Pr 3+ in anisotropic PbWO4 crystal

The polarized absorption spectra, polarized fluorescence spectra, and fluorescence decay curves of Pr³⁺ ions in anisotropic PbWO₄ single crystal, which was grown by the modified Bridgman method, were measured at room temperature. The standard and modified Judd–Ofelt theories, extended to anisotropic crystal, have been applied to analyze the spectra. The spectroscopic parameters, including the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters _t(t=2,4,6), spontaneous emission probabilities, fluorescence branching ratios, radiative lifetimes, stimulated emission cross sections, and fluorescence quantum efficiencies, were estimated. The good spectroscopic properties show the possible application of the Pr³⁺-doped PbWO₄ crystal as solid-state and self-stimulated Raman laser materials. PACS 78.20.-e; 42.70.Hj     

Room temperature emission from the Pr3+ 1 S 0-level in PrF3

PrF₃ as well as PrF₃-LiF and PrF₃-MgF₂ mixtures were investigated by means of high-energetic excitation with synchrotron radiation. In the PrF₃ emission spectrum bands due to the intra-configurational 4f²4f² transitions originating from the ¹S₀ level of the Pr³⁺ ion have been identified. The emission from the ³P₀ multiplet is very weak due to non-radiative decay by cross-relaxation processes. Therefore, PrF₃ is not an efficient direct cascade emitter. In the PrF₃ excitation spectra in the ultraviolet/vacuum-ultraviolet spectral range, the ³H₄¹S₀ transition at 46858 cm^-1 as well as broad bands due to the inter-configurational 4f²4f5d transitions are observed. By comparison with data of Pr³⁺ doped YF₃, the branching ratios of the emission transitions for PrF₃ from the ¹S₀ were determined; these are 0.008, 0.075, 0.262, 0.023 and 0.629 for transitions ¹S₀³H₄, ³F₄, ¹G₄, ¹D₂ and ¹I₆, respectively. For the polycrystalline PrF₃-LiF and PrF₃-MgF₂ samples investigated by us, the measured emission and excitation spectra are nearly identical to those of PrF₃. For polycrystalline PrF₃-KMgF₃ the observed spectra are superpositions of the PrF₃ and Pr³⁺:KMgF₃ spectra. PACS 42.70.-a; 78.55.-m; 78.55.Hx     

Yb3+：Pr3+：ZBLAN光纤中4f5d上转换激发的理论研究

利用粒子数速率方程和相关的辐射跃迁理论,计算了Yb³⁺:Pr³⁺:ZBLAN光纤中Pr³⁺离子4f5d能级两步上转换激发的动力学过程.得到不同Pr³⁺掺杂浓度下,激发光的光谱强度和粒子数密度的纵向分布和有效光纤长度随激发光的光谱强度的变化关系.另外,还得到了4f5d荧光强度与入射光强、光纤长度和Pr³⁺掺杂浓度的关系,给出了激发效率与激发光的光谱强度和Pr³⁺掺杂浓度的关系.     

Laser excitation of Pr3+ sites in ThCl4:Pr3+

Use of site selection spectroscopic techniques combined with low temperature absorption spectral studies has enabled the identification and characterization of ten optically important charge-compensated crystallographic sites for Pr³⁺ in the β-ThCl₄:Pr³⁺ system. Fluorescence decay time measurements, variation of site distribution with dopant concentration and fluorescence spectra were used to characterize the sites. Distant charge compensation is found to be one of the dominant modes of charge compensation of Pr³⁺ in ThCl₄, and its predominance over other sites increases as Pr³⁺ concentration decreases. The sinusoidal distortion of the crystal field symmetry around Pr³⁺ in the incommensurate phase of β-ThCl₄ is believed to be mainly responsible for the splitting and continuous shift in fluorescence spectral lines which occur when ³P₀→³F₂ fluorescence scans are made with excitation at different points on the ³P₀←³H₄ absorption line belonging to different sites.     

Scintillation response of Y3Al5O12:Pr3+ single crystal scintillators

In this paper we present the photoluminescence (PL) and scintillation response of Pr³⁺-doped Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG:Pr) single crystals grown by the Czochralski method with different Pr³⁺ concentrations of 0.16, 0.33, and 0.65 mol%. PL spectra and decay curves were measured for both the fast 5d → 4f and slow 4f → 4f emissions. The PL decay times were evaluated which evidence concentration quenching especially in ¹D₂ → ³H₄ emission for the highest Pr³⁺ concentration. Light yield (LY) of 15,600 photons per MeV and energy resolution of 6.4% at 662 keV γ-rays were obtained with the YAG:Pr (0.33%) crystal. The LY non-proportionality and energy resolution versus γ-ray energy were measured and the intrinsic resolution was calculated. A good proportionality of the LY was found within 7% over the energy range from 1274.5 keV down to 32 keV. The estimated photofraction in the pulse height spectra of 320 and 662 keV γ-rays was also determined and compared with the theoretical one calculated using WinXCom program.     

Luminescence of Ca(NbO3)2:Pr3+: Pr3+ and self-trapped exciton emission

Photoluminescence and time resolved photoluminescence spectra of Ca(NbO₃)₂ doped with Pr³⁺, excited under 37,000 cm^?1 (270 nm), obtained at high hydrostatic pressure up to 20 kbar applied in a sapphire anvil cells, are presented. At ambient conditions, the emission spectrum obtained in the time interval 0–1 μs is dominated by spin allowed transitions from the ³P₀ state. The luminescence related to transitions from ¹D₂, characterized by a decay time equal to 33 μs, is observed when one excites directly the Pr³⁺ ion with 30,770 cm^?1 (325 nm) wavelength. The introduction of Pr³⁺ impurities in Ca(NbO₃)₂ does not quench the self-trapped exciton (STE) luminescence. This luminescence, peaking at 20,000 cm^?1 (500 nm), having a decay time of 61 ± 1 μs, still occurs when the crystal is excited with a wavelength of 37,000 cm^?1 (270 nm) or shorter. Under such excitation a fraction of the STE luminescence is reabsorbed by Pr³⁺ ions; in this case the emission lifetime of the ¹D₂ → ³H₄ transition of Pr³⁺ is 64 ± 3 μs. This effect is stable also at high pressure.     

Temperature-dependent segregation of Pr3+ impurity ions in Y2SiO5:Pr3+ and YPO4:Pr3+ nanocrystals

Stationary and time-resolved spectroscopic methods are used to show that the impurity ions in Y₂SiO₅:Pr³⁺ and YPO₄:Pr³⁺ nanocrystals are distributed nonuniformly. This nonuniform distribution is found to be caused by the temperature-dependent segregation of Pr³⁺ ions near the surface of a nanocrystal. The motion of the activator ions from the bulk of a nanocrystal to the near-surface layer is traced when the activator concentration and the heat-treatment parameters are varied over wide ranges, and the main parameters of this effect (impurity redistribution intensity and time, diffusion coefficient) are estimated.     

Efficient Continuous Wave-laser emission of Pr3+-doped fluorides at room temperature

We report, to our knowledge for the first time, Continuous Wave (CW) laser emission at room temperature of Pr:LiYF₄ (Pr.YLF) at six wavelengths: 522, 545, 607, 639.5, 720 and 907.4 nm. The pump source was an argon-ion laser tuned to a wavelength of = 457.9 nm. The maximum output powers at 522 nm (³P_i ³H₅) and 639.5 nm (³P₀ ³F₂) were 144 and 266 mW, respectively. We also observed CW laser action of Pr:GdLiF₄ (Pr: GLF) at = 639 nm and of Pr:KYF₄ (Pr: KYF) at = 642.5 nm.     

Optical spectra and luminescence dynamics of Pr3+ and Nd3+ in SrLaAlO4 single crystals

Single crystals of SrLaAlO₄: Pr³⁺ and SrLaAlO₄: Nd³⁺ have been grown by the Czochralski method and their optical properties have been studied for different activator concentrations. The absorption and emission spectra of the activators are inhomogeneously broadened because the Sr²⁺ and La³⁺ ions are distributed randomly on the sites ofC ₄ symmetry, however, the symmetry selection rules are still obeyed. Strong self-quenching of the praseodymium luminescence occurs by cross relaxation which is supposed to be assisted by phonon emission in the case of the³ P ₀ level. Self-quenching of Nd³⁺ luminescence disappears at low temperature indicating that the condition of resonance in the cross-relaxation process is fulfilled only for higher components of the ground state.Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland     

Luminescence and scintillation properties of advanced Lu3Al5O12:Pr3+ single crystal scintillators

In this paper we present the luminescence and scintillation properties of Lu₃Al₅O₁₂:Pr (LuAG:Pr) single crystals with Pr³⁺ concentration of 0.13 wt %, grown by the Czochralski method. The light yield and energy resolution were measured under 662 keV γ-ray excitation. The dominant emission band peaking at 310 nm with a shoulder at 370 nm was observed in the photoluminescence spectrum. High light yield of 24,500 ph/MeV and an energy resolution of 5.3 % were obtained for a 6 × 6 × 2 mm³ LuAG:Pr sample. Light yield dependence on sample height and shaping time was measured. The estimated photofraction in pulse height spectrum and total mass attenuation coefficient at 662 keV γ-rays were also determined and compared with the theoretical ones calculated using the WinXCom program.     

On spectroscopic properties of the KYb(WO4)2:Pr3+ crystal

Spectroscopic properties of Pr³⁺ doped KYb(WO₄)₂ single crystals were investigated. The crystal lattice parameters were determined. Energy levels of Pr³⁺ in KYb(WO₄)₂ were assigned. The absorption, emission, excitation, time-resolved emission and excitation spectra were measured at low (10 K) and at room temperature. Decay times of the praseodymium emissions are non-exponential and unusually short. Site selection spectroscopy evidences several different Pr³⁺ sites. The Judd-Ofelt intensity model was used to analyse the experimental data. The Ω λ parameters, branching ratio and electric dipole transition probabilities were determined.     

Pr3+、Tb3+共掺的NaGdF4和GdB3O6的VUV荧光性质

分别制备了单掺和双掺Pr³⁺和Tb³⁺的NaGdF₄和GdB₃O₆等材料,研究了其真空紫外荧光性质。发现在VUV光的激发下,Gd³⁺离子在Pr³⁺和Tb³⁺的能量传递过程中起着重要的作用。Gd³⁺离子不存在时,Pr³⁺和Tb³⁺之间没有明显的能量传递过程。当体系中加入Gd³⁺离子后,Pr³⁺将大部分能量传递给中间体Gd³⁺,Gd³⁺再将能量传递给Tb³⁺,实现了将Pr³⁺的近紫外光转化为Tb³⁺的绿色光的转换过程。     

Visible cw laser emission of GaN-diode pumped Pr:YAlO3 crystal

In the present work we report on spectroscopic properties and laser results of GaN laser diode pumped Pr:YAlO₃ crystal at room temperature. The polarization-resolved absorption and emission spectra have been recorded and the decay time of the ³ P ₀ manifold has been measured. Three samples with different Pr³⁺-ion concentrations in YAP matrix have been tested and compared. The best results were achieved for 0.6 at. % Pr³⁺-ion doping: an output power of 91 mW at 746.9-nm wavelength with a maximum slope efficiency of 45% with respect to the absorbed power.