Efficient Nd3+→Yb3+ energy transfer in 0.8CaSiO3-0.2Ca3(PO4)2 eutectic glass

In this work we report the study of energy transfer between Nd3+ and Yb3+ ions in glasses with the 0.8CaSiO(3)-0.2Ca(3)(PO4)(2) eutectic composition at room temperature by using steady-state and time-resolved laser spectroscopy. The Nd3+-> Yb3+ transfer efficiency obtained from the Nd3+ lifetimes in the single doped and codoped samples reaches 73% for the highest Nd3+ concentration. The donor decay curves obtained under pulsed excitation have been used to establish the multipolar nature of the Nd3+-> Yb3+ transfer process and the energy transfer microparameter. The nonradiative energy transfer is consistent with an electric dipole-dipole interaction mechanism assisted by energy migration among donors. Back transfer from Yb3+ to Nd3+ is also observed. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America