Spectroscopy and 1μm Luminescence by Visible Quantum Cutting in Pr(3+)-Yb(3+) Codoped Glass

The quantum cutting phenomenon of a blue photon into two infrared photons is reported in glass codoped with Pr(3+)-Yb(3+) ions. Oxyfluoride glass with compositions of 32SrF(2)-0.1PrF(3)-2.9YbF(3)-42SiO(2)-23Al(2)O(3) were prepared, and photoluminescence properties in the range from visible to near-infrared were investigated. Evidence of several energy transfers, such as (Pr(3+):(3)P(0)→(1)G(4))→(Yb(3+):(2)F(5/2)←(2)F(7/2)) and (Pr(3+):(1)D(2)→(3)F(4), (3)F(3))→(Yb(3+):(2)F(5/2)←(2)F(7/2)), were demonstrated in the Pr(3+)-Yb(3+) co-doped glass. By comparing excitation spectrum of the Yb(3+) emission with absorption spectrum of Pr(3+), we obtain direct evidence of quantum cutting by excitation to Pr(3+):(3)P(J) levels at 420 ~ 490 nm.