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Spectroscopic studies of Ho3+-doped SrF2 crystals were performed regarding applications in solid-state lasers. The crystal structure of the Ho:SrF2 crystal was investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. SrF2 exists as a cubic structure with an Fm3m space group. A Raman shift of 288 cm–1 was observed for the Ho:SrF2 single crystal. SrF2 hosts with low-frequency vibrational modes are suitable for reducing nonradiative emissions while maximizing radiative emissions. The absorption spectrum was recorded in the visible region from 400 to 800 nm, yielding absorption lines at 416, 450, 468, 473, 484, 536, 638, and 643 nm. The fluorescence spectrum recorded at an excitation wavelength of 450 nm shows two emission bands at 546 and 656 nm, which correspond to green and red emission, respectively. The intensity parameters Ωλ (λ = 2, 4, and 6) were estimated using the Judd–Ofelt theory. For Ho:SrF2 single crystal, the calculated Ωλ are Ω2 = 0.14 × 10–20 cm2, Ω4 = 3.14 × 10–20 cm2, and Ω6 = 3.74 × 10–20 cm2. The radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes, and branching ratios βR for Ho:SrF2 were determined using the Judd–Ofelt parameters. The 5S2 + 5F4 → 5I8 transition is more effective for population-building processes because of its lifetime (0.26 ms) and higher branching ratios (~82.86%). Ho:SrF2 is, therefore, a promising solid-state laser crystal for green and red spectral regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract NaPO 3 -ZnF 2 binary fluorophosphate glasses doped with trivalent erbium and monovalent copper were synthesized by the conventional melting and casting method using ErF 3 and CuCl as starting materials. The samples were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. X-ray powder diffraction patterns confirmed that the as-prepared compounds were all amorphous. The glass transition temperature (T g) was observed around 230 °C by DSC analysis, while the thermal stability range (ΔT) was estimated to be between 90 and 140 °C. The measured value of the refractive index (n) was measured as 1.502 at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. Thermal annealing of the samples was performed at different temperatures above T g for various heat-treatment times. During these steps, monovalent copper and sodium ions were expected to be reduced, forming metallic nanoparticles. This transformation lead to coloration changes, depending on the annealing time and temperature, with respect to the transparency of the glasses. These spectroscopic changes are related to the plasmonic effects induced by the presence of both Cu and Na metallic nanoparticles, which promote red shift due to absorption. The VIS-NIR absorption spectra of the prepared glasses were investigated in the frame work of standard Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory, which was used to determine the J-O intensity parameters, radiative transition probabilities and branching ratios for Er3+ ions embedded in the glasses. The calculated intensity parameters ( Ω 2,4,6 ) were compared to those obtained for Er3+ in several other glasses. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Fluorophosphate glasses have been synthesized in the NaP3-ZnF2 system and have been doped with Er3+ and Cu+. • Copper and sodium nanoparticles have been formed into this vitreous matrix using heat treatement. • Spectroscopic properties have been investigated and discussed on the basis of the Judd-Ofelt theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]