Relaxation of excited states of Tm3+ and Tm3+-Eu3+ energy transfer in YVO4 crystal.

Tm3+-Eu3+ energy transfer processes and relaxation dynamics of the 3 H 4 and 3 F 4 excited states of Tm3+ ions in 1 at. % Tm3+, 5 at. % Eu3+:YVO4 single crystal were studied. Contribution of Tm3+-Eu3+ energy transfer reduces effectively the lifetime of terminal level in a potential 3 H 4–3 F 4 laser transition at around 1.48 μm. Adverse quenching of the 3 H 4 emission by Eu3+ ions is found to be less efficient than that reported for Tm3+ + Tb3+ system in YVO4. The classical Inokuti–Hirayama model accounts well for an experimental decay curve of the 3 H 4 emission recorded for co-doped crystal. Stimulated emission cross section for 3 H 4–3 F 4 transition of Tm3+ at around 1.48 μm was analyzed taking into account the anisotropy of YVO4 crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]