Visible emission studies of melt-grown Dy-doped CsPbCl 3 and KPb 2 Cl 5 crystals

We report results of the optical properties of Dy-doped CsPbCl3 and KPb2Cl5 bulk crystals for potential applications in yellow solid-state laser development. The crystals were synthesized from purified starting materials and melt-grown by vertical Bridgman technique. Optical transmission measurements revealed characteristic absorption bands from intra-4f transitions of Dy3+ ions. Direct optical excitation at 455 nm (H-6(15/2) -> I-4(15/2)) resulted in dominant yellow emission bands at similar to 575 nm from the F-4(9/2) excited state of Dy3+ ions. In addition, both crystals exhibited weaker emission lines in the blue (similar to 483 nm) and red (similar to 670 nm) regions. The peak emission-cross sections for the yellow transition (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(13/2)) were determined to be similar to 0.22 x 10(-20) cm(2) for Dy: CsPbCl3 (lambda(peak) = 576.5 nm) and similar to 0.59 x 10(-20) cm(2) for Dy: KPb2Cl5 (lambda(peak) = 574.5 nm). The spectral properties and decay dynamics of the F-4(9/2) excited state were evaluated within the Judd-Ofelt theory to predict total radiative decay rates, branching ratios, and emission quantum efficiencies. (C) 2020 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement