Spectroscopy and 1μm Luminescence by Visible Quantum Cutting in Pr3+-Yb3+ Codoped Glass

The quantum cutting phenomenon of a blue photon into two infrared photons is reported in glass codoped with Pr3+-Yb3+ 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 (Pr3+:P-3(0)->(1)G(4))->(Yb3+:F-2(5/2)<- F-2(7/2)) and (Pr3+:D-1(2)-> F-3(4), F-3(3))->(Yb3+:F-2(5/2)<- F-2(7/2)), were demonstrated in the Pr3+-Yb3+ co-doped glass. By comparing excitation spectrum of the Yb3+ emission with absorption spectrum of Pr3+, we obtain direct evidence of quantum cutting by excitation to Pr3+:P-3(J) levels at 420 similar to 490 nm.