Short-wavelength luminescence in Ho-doped KGd(WO4)2 crystals

Emissions from the high-lying excited states, energy transfer and upconversion processes are investigated in Ho³⁺-activated KGd(WO₄)₂ crystal. The spectral assignment based on time-resolved emission spectra allowed to identify various near ultra-violet (UV), blue and green emissions starting from the excited ³H₅, ⁵G₄, ⁵G₅, ⁵F₃ and ⁵S₂ levels. The temporal behavior of these transitions after pulsed excitation was analyzed as a function of temperature and holmium ions concentration. The shortening and nonexponentiality of the decays, observed with increasing activator concentrations, indicated cross-relaxation (CR) among the Ho³⁺ ions. Cross-relaxation rates were experimentally determined as a function of activator concentration and used to evaluate the values of the nearest-neighbor trapping rates X₀₁ and to model the decays. It was observed that KGW, despite higher than in YAG maximum phonon energy of about 900 cm⁻¹, is more efficient short-wavelength emitter than YAG. Examples of the excited-state absorption (ESA) and energy transfer (ET) mechanisms responsible for the upconverted, short-wavelength emissions were identified by analyzing fluorescence dynamics and possible energy resonances.