Spectroscopic properties of heavily Ho super(3) -doped barium yttrium fluoride crystals

The 30 at.% Ho: BaY sub(2)F sub(8) crystals were grown by the Czochralski method, and their spectroscopic properties are analyzed systematically by standard Judd-Ofelt theory. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters are estimated to be [Omega] sub(2) 6 74 10 super(20)cm super(2), [Omega] sub(4) 1 20 10 super(20)cm super(2), and 0 66 10 super(20) cm super(2), and the fluorescence branching ratios and radiative lifetimes for a series of excited state manifolds are also determined. The emission cross sections with our measured infrared luminescence spectra, especially important for 4.1 m, are calculated to be about 4 37 10 super(21)cm super(2). The crystal quality is preliminarily tested through a mid-infrared laser emission experiment.