Luminescence Properties and Judd–Ofelt Analysis of Various ErF(3) Concentration-Doped BaF(2) Crystals

The influence of erbium ion concentration on the optical properties of BaF(2):ErF(3) crystals was investigated. Four ErF(3) concentration (0.05, 0.08, 0.15 and 0.5 mol% ErF(3))-doped BaF(2) crystals were obtained using the Bridgman technique. Room temperature optical absorption in the 250–850 nm spectral range was measured, and the photoluminescence (PL) and decay times were also investigated. The Judd–Ofelt (JO) approximation was used, taking into account four absorption peaks (at 377, 519, 653 and 802 nm). The JO intensity parameters, Ω(t) (t = 2, 4, 6), were calculated. The influence of the ErF(3) concentration on the JO parameters, branching ratio, radiative transition probability and radiative lifetime were studied. The obtained results were compared with measured values and with those reported in the literature. Under excitation at 380 nm, the well-known green (539 nm) and red (668 nm) emissions were obtained. The calculated and experimental radiative lifetimes were in millisecond range for green and red emissions. The intensity of the PL spectra varied with the Er(3+) ion concentration. The emission intensity increased linearly or exponentially, depending on the ErF(3) concentration. Under excitation at 290 nm, separate to the green and red emissions, a new UV emission band (at 321 nm) was obtained. Other research has not reported the UV emission or the influence of ErF(3) concentration on emission behavior.