Photon cascade emission and quantum efficiency of the 3P0 level in Pr3+-doped SrAl12O19 system

Abstract Photon cascade emission has been reported in Pr 3+ -doped SrAl 12 O 19 system, providing a unique method for direct measuring the quantum efficiency of 3 P 0 in this material. The 1 S 0 → 1 I 6 fluorescence intensity can be taken as a measure of the initial 3 P 0 population. Thus the quantum efficiency of 3 P 0 can be calculated using the intensity ratio of the total emission from 3 P 0 and the emission of 1 S 0 → 1 I 6 . The efficiency decreases as the concentration of Pr increases, indicating the effect of concentration quenching. The quantum efficiency is still substantially less than 100% even in dilute sample due to the thermal excitation of 1 I 6 and 3 P 1 states.