VUV fluorescence of Nd3+-, Er3+, and Tm3+-doped trifluorides and tunable coherent sources from 1650 to 2600 Å

Abstract

Broad-band vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) fluorescence has been observed in Nd3+-, Er3+-, and Tm3+-doped LaF3, YF3, LiYF4, and LuF3 by electron-beam and VUV excitation. The VUV excitation spectra indicate a large Stokes shift (≳5000 cm−1) and a high fluorescence quantum yield of 0.8. The threshold power for laser action in these crystals by optical pumping has been estimated. Using a molecular H2 laser as a pumping source, a laser system which is tunable from 1650 to 2600 Å could be constructed.

Multi-Photon Phosphor Feasibility Research

“…These transitions are situated at high energies, often in the vacuum ultraviolet part of the spectrum [133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140]. In recent years the VUV spectroscopy of these transitions has been extensively studied and the increase in the understanding of the position of fd excited states has also greatly benefited from the thorough literature search by Dorenbos.…”

Laser crystals and ceramics: recent advances

“…The disposition of the energy levels and luminescence intensity properties of known generating Tm 3+ -doped crystals (Tables 1, 3, 5, and 6) allow the creation of cascade and cross-cascade [75,202,203] as well as cross-relaxation [195] laser schemes. It is also known that tunable SE in the vacuum UV region can be excited at the interconfiguration 4f 11 5d 1 -4f 12 ed-allowed transition of Tm 3+ ions in several anisotropic fluoride crystals [204].…”

VUV Laser Spectroscopy of Trivalent Rare-Earth Ions in Wide Band Gap Fluoride Crystals

“…The edge of the levels of the 4f l0 5d electronic configuration in this crystal host was found to be at 61,900 cm" 1 , 58,000 cnT 1 in LaF 3 [2], and at 63,000 cirr 1 in LiLuF 4 [9]. Five main Stark components of the 4f l0 5d electronic configuration have been observed as well in LiLuF 4 hosts with the maximum of the absorption at 60,980, 69,198,71,422,74,343, and 76,916 cm" 1 . The presence of an additional weak absorption band with maximum of absorption at 163 nm in LiLuF 4 host has been observed as well by Devyatkova et al [141] in KY 3 F| 0 matrices at 164.4 nm.…”

“…The energy levels were assigned by comparing the level structure with that of the isoelectronic Ce 2+ ion and from relative line intensities [103]. The free Pr 3+ ion in the 4f5d electronic configuration has 18 energy levels, the lowest is the 'G 4 at 61,171 cm' 1 . The 3 G 3A5 , 3 H 45 levels are excited through dipole-allowed transi tions from the 3 H 4 ground state of the 4f 2 electronic configuration.…”

“…The absorption spectrum of the trivalent Er 3+ ion in the VUV has been studied previously in a number of crystal lattices [1][2][3]9,81,[140][141] and it was found to be rather simple, mainly because very few energy levels of the 4f l0 5d electronic configuration are within the band gap of the host material. Intraconfigurational VUV dipole-forbidden 4f " -» 4f " transitions of Er 3+ ions were observed in various dielectric crystals as well [142].…”