Optical Properties of Pr³⁺-Doped Y₂SiO₅ Crystals

Optical properties of Pr³⁺ doped in Y₂SiO₅, including absorption spectra, emission spectra, and fluorescence decay, have been investigated with a special attention in the UV region. Broad band (270--350nm) UV fluorescence assigned to the transitions 4f5d → 4f^{2 3}H_J, ³F_J is found. The spontaneous transition probabilities in the 4f² intraconfiguration are calculated by utilizing the Judd--Ofelt theory, by which three phenomenological parameters (Ω₂, Ω₄, Ω₆,) are obtained by fitting the absorption spectra. For the evaluation of transition probability of the interconfiguration 4f5d → 4f², a formula for electric dipole transition is employed. In comparison of the measured fluorescence lifetime with the calculated spontaneous radiative lifetime, the fluorescence quantum efficiency is deduced.