Quantitative analysis of erbium luminescence in LiY sub(O.99) Er sub(0.01)F sub(4)E LiY sub(0.60)Er sub(0.40)F sub(4)

The partial and integrated luminescence of the Er sup(3+) ions in YLF (LiYF sub(4)) crystals have been measured for low (1%) and high (40%) concentrations. The branching ratios of the several luminescent channels were determined at 77 K and 300 K. At 77 K, 91% of the integrated Er sup(3+) (1%) emission falls below 1.10 μm. However, for Er sup(3+) (40%) a quenching of the total luminescence was observed with the emission below 1.10 μnow competing with the middle-infrared one (mid-IR). At 300 K the integrated emission for both concentrations is now reduced and displaced to the mid-IR. A strong quenching of the total emission is observed for the high concentration sample. (author)