Mid-infrared luminescence properties of Dy-doped silver halide crystals

The absorption and the kinetics of the emission in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) were investigated in AgClxBr1-x crystals doped with Dy3+ ions. Strong emission bands were detected at 3, 4.4, and 5.5 mu m and attributed to the H-6(13/2) -> H-6(15/2), H-6(11/2) -> H-6(13/2), and F-6(11/2) + H-6(9/2) -> H-6(11/2) transitions. Various optical parameters were calculated for the Dy3+ doped crystals, using the Judd-Ofelt approximation and the rate equations. The measured results and the calculated parameters indicate that these doped crystals could be used for the development of mid-IR solid-state lasers or mid-IR fiber lasers. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America