Spectroscopy of YVO4:Ho3+ crystals

Crystals of YVO 4 :Ho were grown by the Czochralski method. The structure of the low-energy levels of Ho 3+ has been estimated experimentally. Intensity parameters, radiative lifetimes, and branching ratios have been calculated in the framework of the Judd–Ofelt theory. The influence of temperature on luminescence lifetimes has been investigated. The calculated nonradiative transition rate was compared with the energy-gap law. The potential laser gain for the 5 I 7 – 5 I 8 transition has been estimated.