Room temperature near infrared luminescence of an U3+ doped CsCdCl3 potential laser crystal

Good quality U3+ doped CsCdCl3 single crystals with a 0.05 mol% U3+ concentration have been obtained by the Bridgman–Stockbarger method. Luminescence spectra of the crystals were recorded at room temperature in the near infrared range. Excitation in the range of 5f26d1 bands at 514 nm produced a strong emission at 1.47 and 2.35 μm from the 4F3/2 and 4I11/2 levels to the 4I9/2 ground level, respectively and at 3.15 μm from the 4F3/2 level to the first excited component of the 4I11/2 level. For the first time very large lifetimes of the U3+ luminescence levels have been observed.