ENERGY-TRANSFER PROCESSES IN ER3+-DOPED AND YB3+-DOPED INFRARED UP-CONVERSION MATERIALS

Luminescence characteristics in Er3+-ion activated, Yb 3+-ion sensitized infrared upconversion materials have been investigated, especially for their energy back transfer processes from Er 3+ to Yb3+ ions. Decay characteristics of Er3+ ion green emission have been examined in various fluoride crystals and fluoride glasses for the purpose of elucidating the energy transfer processes involved in the upconversion phenomena. It has been shown that decay characteristics of the green emission are sensitive to the host materials as well as Yb3+ concentration. The decay characteristics have been analyzed with a model taking into account configurations of Yb3+ ions around an Er3+ ion. It has been shown that the analyses present useful methods for characterizing energy transfer processes in materials containing higher amount of Yb3+ ions. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.