Inter- and Intraconfigurational Transitions of Nd3+ in Hexafluorocryolite-type K3YF6 Lattice

Vacuum ultraviolet, visible, and infrared luminescence of Nd3+ incorporated into hexafluorocryolite-type K3YF6 lattice were investigated. Emission from the 4f25d1 at 8 K is observed after the excitation of 4f25d1 by synchrotron radiation. At higher temperatures only the transitions within the 4f shell are observed with the significant participation of 2G(2)9/2 emission to the lower 4f levels. The difference between near-infrared emission spectra excited at 800 and 186 nm implies that emission band excited at 186 nm consists of overlapping transitions originating from the 4F3/2 and higher energy levels. The room temperature 4F3/2 emission lifetime and the influence of different concentration of Nd3+ ions on rate of the self-quenching luminescence lifetime have been studied in details. The 4F3/2 emission lifetime measured at 2.6 × 1019/cm3 Nd3+ concentration in K3YF6 equals 5.3 ms and is the highest value ever reported for Nd3+-doped crystals.