Absorption intensities and emission cross section of intermanifold transition of Er3+ in Er3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals

The room temperature absorption intensities of Er3+(4f(11)) transitions in synthesized Er3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals have been analyzed using the Judd-Ofelt (J-O) model in order to obtain the phenomenological intensity parameters. The J-O intensity parameters are subsequently used to determine the radiative decay rates, radiative lifetimes, and branching ratios of the Er3+ transitions from the upper multiplet manifolds to the corresponding lower-lying multiplet manifolds L-2S+1(J) of Er3+(4f(11)). The emission cross section of the important intermanifold Er3+ I-4(13/2)-> I-4(15/2) (1.5 mu m) transition has been determined. The room temperature fluorescence lifetime of this transition in Er3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals was measured. From the radiative lifetime determined from the J-O model and measured fluorescence lifetime, the quantum efficiency of this material was determined. The comparative study of Er3+(4f(11)) ions suggests that synthesized Er3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals could be an excellent alternative to single crystal Er3+:Y2O3 for certain applications especially in the near infrared region. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.