Judd-Ofelt analysis of Eu3+ and Er3+ doped in ceramic BaGd2ZnO5

Abstract Judd-Ofelt (JO) analyses are performed on the efficient upconversion oxide phosphor Er 3+ :BaGd 2 ZnO 5 as well as on the tunable phosphor Eu 3+ :BaGd 2 ZnO 5 . The refractive index of BaGd 2 ZnO 5 found using the luminescence spectrum of Eu 3+ is n  = 2.17. The JO parameters for Eu:BaGd 2 ZnO 5 are Ω 2 = 9.71 × 10 –20 cm 2 and Ω 4 = 6.15 × 10 –20 cm 2 . The JO parameters of Er 3+ :BaGd 2 ZnO 5 are Ω 2 = 2.77 × 10 –20 cm 2 , Ω 4 = 1.61 × 10 –20 cm 2 , and Ω 6 = 0.60 × 10 –20 cm 2 . The energy gap (Δ E  = 879 cm −1 ) between 2 H 11/2 and 4 S 3/2 energy levels of Er 3+ was obtained from a Fluorescence Intensity Ratio experiment. For the Er 3+ :BaGd 2 ZnO 5 , the calculations yielded the transition probabilities, branching ratios, radiative lifetimes, and quantum efficiency of the excited energy levels of Er 3+ involved in upconversion.