Abstract

The absorption and fluorescence spectra as well as lifetimes of Pr³⁺ and Eu³⁺ in LaP₅O₁₄, LiNbO₃, and SBN(Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆) for the transitions between the 4fⁿ states are presented. Comparisons of the calculated lifetimes based on Judd-Ofelt theory and absorption data with the experimental results have been made. For Eu³⁺, there is good agreement between the theoretical and experimental values. The spectral linewidths of Eu³⁺ in SBN are much broader than those in EuP₅O₁₄. For the ⁵D₀—⁷F₂ transition, the strong dependence of the fluorescence peak frequency on the excited wavelength and the strong dependence of the fluorescence intensity on temperature reflect the partly disordered nature of the structure of SBN. For Pr³⁺ in PrP₅O₁₄, the discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental results arises from the strong cross-relaxation among the Pr³⁺ ions. In low-doping LiNbO₃ and SBN the fluorescence spectral linewidths and intensities of Pr³⁺ are much larger than those in PrP₅O₁₄, and the lifetimes of Pr³⁺ in the former hosts are at least 3 orders of magnitude longer than those in the latter host.

© 1987 Optical Society of America