Co‐emission of Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ ions in LiNbO 3 :Tb 3+ , Eu 3+ single crystals

In this paper the optical properties (emission and excitation spectra) of Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ ions in LiNbO 3 :Tb 3+ (LNTb), and LiNbO 3 :Eu 3+ (LNEu) single crystals, and of Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ ions in doubly doped LiNbO 3 :Tb 3+ ,Eu 3+ (LNTbEu) are presented, in the 200‐700 nm range at 12 K. The results are discussed and combined with previous observations on the optical properties of LiNbO 3 :Tb 3+ (LNTb), LiNbO 3 :Eu 3+ (LNEu) in order to get a better understanding on the nature of the Tb 3+ → Eu 3+ energy transfer mechanism, observed in our LNTbEu samples. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)