Spectroscopic and optical properties of the rare earth-doped liquid PBr3/AlBr3/SbBr3

A complete spectroscopic evaluation of rare earth-doped PBr3/AlBr3/SbBr3 ha s been carried out for several of the lanthanides. A comprehensive assignme nt of 4f energy levels has been made and absorption and fluorescence spectr a have been used in evaluating the Judd-Ofelt parameters for most of the ra re earths studied. The stimulated emission cross sections for the F-4(3/2)- I-4(11/2) transition in the neodymium-doped solution was found to be sigma( Nd) = 6.8 x 10(-20) cm(2), and for the I-4(13/2)-I-4(15/2) transition in th e erbium-doped solution sigma(Er) = 6.2 x 10(-21) cm(2). Non-radiative rela xation rates and stimulated emission cross sections have also been evaluate d for potential laser transitions in the 3-5 mu m spectral region. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.