Theoretical evaluation on the possibility of laser cooling and simultaneous temperature sensing in Er3+doped LiYF4 single crystal

In our previous work, a novel laser cooling method was developed using anti-Stokes fluorescence from thermal equilibrium levels of Er3+, with its efficacy proven in Er3+ doped ZBLAN glass. This study has extended the method to Er3+ doped LiYF4 single crystal, where anti-Stokes fluorescence from 2H11/2 is utilized by excitation at the 4S3/2 level of Er3+ for optical in situ temperature control. The non-radiative and radiative transition probabilities among 4f levels of Er3+ were assessed, and the populations of all levels relevant to laser cooling and temperature sensing were calculated. Results demonstrate that the Er3+ doped LiYF4 crystal achieves effective cooling within a specific temperature range, exhibiting high temperature sensitivity.