LUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES OF THE TM(3+) DOPED SILICATES Y2SIO5, CAY4(SIO4)3O AND SRY4(SIO4)3O

The optical properties of powders and crystals of Tm3+ doped silicates of formula Y2SiO5, CaY4(SiO4)O and SrY4(SiO4)O are presented. These m aterials emit very interesting infrared fluorescences around 2 mum whi ch make them very efficient room temperature laser systems when pumped by diode lasers around 795 nm. The spectral and dynamical behaviour o f these fluorescences in the three compounds is first analysed as a fu nction of the temperature and of the dopant concentration. Then a more detail study of the infrared and visible fluorescences in Tm3+ doped Y2SiO5 is developed, including a Judd-Ofelt analysis of the absorption spectra and an analysis of the main energy transfer and multiphonon r elaxation processes.