Publisher Summary The intensities of intraconfigurational f–f transitions are reviewed in the chapter The chapter presents the transition mechanisms for lanthanide ions—namely, the magnetic dipole transition, the induced electric dipole transition, and the electric quadrupole transition It discusses the way experimental intensities can be determined from the spectra The chapter also focuses on the expression of the dipole strength and the oscillator strength in oriented and in randomly-oriented systems Correction factors for lanthanide ions in a dielectric medium are described in the chapter Although only a few magnetic dipole transitions exist for the trivalent lanthanide ions, magnetic dipole transitions are of interest, because their intensities are in a first approximation independent of the ligand environment and can, thus, be used as intensity standards The intensity of a magnetic dipole transition can be calculated exactly, provided that suitable wavefunctions are available These wavefunctions can be obtained from diagonalization of the energy matrix

Chapter 167 Spectral intensities of f-f transitions

50th anniversary of the Judd–Ofelt theory: An experimentalist's view of the formalism and its application

An investigation has been made of the radiative and non-radiative properties of the well known ZBLAN glass composition doped with individual rare earth elements (Pr3+, Nd3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Er3+ and Tm3+) at levels between 0.1 and 4 mol%. The optical absorption and fluorescence spectra of the samples were measured and also the lifetimes for some transitions. Using the Judd-Ofelt model, the radiative decay rates between the different levels, the lifetimes and the branching ratios were calculated. These results and comparison of calculated and measured lifetimes are discussed with respect to radiative and non-radiative rates and quantum efficiencies. The multiphonon rates below 3200 cm−1 are found to be less in ZBLAN than in other host materials (ZBLA, SiO2, YAG).

Optical properties of rare earth-doped ZBLAN glasses

Lanthanides in Non-Oxide Glasses

Optical and spectroscopic properties of Eu-doped tellurite glasses and glass ceramics

Optical absorption and emission spectra are presented for Pr 3+ ions in fluorozirconate (ZBLA) glass. The measured oscillator strengths and radiative rates for several transitions are compared with calculated values. Radiative transition rates for the excited states are determined by using the Judd-Ofelt theory. Energy transfer effects account for the nonradiative transitions. Although the Judd-Ofelt analysis does not yield the same excellent consistency for oscillator strengths and branching ratios for Pr 3+ as for Er 3+ and Ho 3+ , the experimental observations are consistent with the Judd-Ofelt calculations and the multiphonon emission rates predicted by the phenomenological energy-gap law. The crystallization of ZBLA glass also was studied, using Pr 3+ ions as probes.

J.L. Adam

Papers

Optical transitions of Pr3+ ions in fluorozirconate glass