Excited state dynamics of Pr3+ in YVO4 crystals

The quenching mechanism of the emission from the P-3(0) level of Pr3+ doped into YVO4 has been investigated by means of optical spectroscopy techniques. Continuous wave and time-resolved emission and excitation measurements have been carried out as a function of the temperature and of the dopant concentration in order to obtain information on the energy-transfer processes involved in the host sensitization of the red luminescence and in the depopulation of the emitting states. The experiments have also been extended to LaVO4:Pr3+ and YPO4:Pr3+, i.e., two crystals for which the P-3(0) emission is stronger than for YVO4:Pr3+, with the aim of studying the relationship between of the host properties and the optical behavior of the Pr3+ ion. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.