Judd–Ofelt Parametrization from the Emission Spectrum of Pr3+ Doped Materials: Theory, Application Software, and Demonstration on Pr3+ Doped YF3 and LaF3

Abstract

Judd–Ofelt (JO) theory explains the optical properties of trivalent lanthanides using only three intensity parameters. The JO parametrization is a complicated procedure of absorption spectra analysis, especially cumbersome for powders and non-transparent materials. For the Pr3+ activated materials, the procedure is additionally complicated due to strong interaction of low-lying Pr3+ 4f5d energy levels with the 4f levels. Here, the straightforward JO parametrization method that uses the emission spectrum and the excited state lifetime of the Pr3+ 3P0 level which does not require any fitting procedure are shown. In addition, the theory and software for calculations of JO parameters from Pr3+ emission are explained. The method requirements are low-temperature photoluminescence measurements of Pr3+ introduced in low phonon energy hosts with a relatively high lying 4f5d energy level. The method is demonstrated on emissions of YF3:Pr3+ and LaF3:Pr3+ powders.