Visible to infrared energy conversion in Pr3+–Yb3+ co-doped fluoroindate glasses

Abstract

Processes involving visible to infrared energy conversion are presented for Pr3+–Yb3+ co-doped fluoroindate glasses. The emission in the visible and infrared regions, the luminescence decay time of the Pr3+:3P0→3H4 (482nm), Pr3+:1D2→3H6 (800nm), Yb3+:2F5/2→2F7/2 (1044nm) transitions and the photoluminescence excitation spectra were measured in Pr3+ samples and in Pr3+–Yb3+ samples as a function of the Yb3+ concentration. In addition, energy transfer efficiencies were estimated from Pr3+:3P0 and Pr3+:1D2 levels to Yb3+:2F7/2 level. Down-Conversion (DC) emission is observed due to a combination of two different processes: 1-a one-step cross relaxation (Pr3+:3P0→1G4; Yb3+:2F7/2→2F5/2) resulting in one photon emitted by Pr3+ (1G4→3H5) and one photon emitted by Yb3+ (2F7/2→2F5/2); 2-a resonant two-step first order energy transfer, where the first part of energy is transferred to Yb3+ neighbor through cross relaxation (Pr3+:3P0→1G4; Yb3+:2F7/2→2F5/2) followed by a second energy transfer step (Pr3+:1G4→3H4; Yb3+:2F7/2→2F5/2). A third process leading to one IR photon emission to each visible photon absorbed involves cross relaxation energy transfer (Pr3+:1D2→3F4; Yb3+:2F7/2→2F5/2).