Broadband white radiation in Yb3+- and Er3+-doped nanocrystalline powders of yttrium orthophosphates irradiated by 972-nm laser radiation

Abstract

The up-conversion luminescence of Er3+ from the 2 H 11/2, 4 S 3/2, and 4 F 9/2 levels in nanocrystals of Y0.95(1‒x)Yb0.95x Er0.05PO4 (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1) orthophosphates activated with Er3+ ions has been studied under the excitation of Yb3+ ions to the 2 F 5/2 level by 972-nm cw laser radiation. Broadband radiation in the wavelength range of 370–900 nm has been observed at certain power densities of exciting laser radiation; this broadband radiation is absent in the case of excitation of the powders under study by pulsed laser radiation with a wavelength of 972 nm at a pulse repetition frequency of 10 Hz and a duration of a pulse of 15 ns. Experimental data indicating that this radiation is thermal in nature have been presented.