Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of Tm3+-doped KY3F10 single crystals

We examine the laser possibilities offered by Tm3+-doped KY3F10. After crystal growth and X-ray diffraction analysis, the optical properties of thulium ions in KY3F10 are determined for the first time. Absorption and emission spectra recorded at low temperatures are used to obtain a set of Stark sublevels, whereas the room-temperature absorption spectra have been allowed to fit the three phenomenological Judd-Ofelt (JO) parameters. The emission line strengths, branching ratios, and radiative lifetimes of levels from F-3(4) up to D-1(2) are then deduced. A comparison between the calculated lifetimes and the measured luminescence decay curves permits us to check the reliability of the JO analysis for this system. The potential of Tm:KY3F10 for laser emission from H-3(4) or F-3(4) emitting levels is briefly examined.