Multiphoton near-infrared quantum cutting luminescence phenomena of Tm3+ ion in (Y1-xTm(x))3Al5O12 powder phosphor.

In the present study, the multiphoton near-infrared downconversion quantum cutting luminescence phenomena of Tm3+ ion in (Y(1-x)Tm(x))(3)Al(5)O(12) powder phosphor, which is currently a hot research topic throughout the world, is reported. The x-ray diffraction spectra, the visible to near-infrared excitation and emission spectra, and fluorescence lifetimes are measured. It is found that Tm:YAG powder phosphor has intense two-photon quantum cutting luminescence, and, for the first time, it is found that Tm:YAG powder phosphor has strong four-photon near-infrared quantum cutting luminescence of 1788 nm (3)F4 → (3)H6 fluorescence of Tm(3+) ion. It is also found that the theoretical up-limit of four-photon near-infrared quantum cutting efficiency is about 282.12%, which results from both the {(1)D2 → (3)F2, (3)H6 → (3)H4} and {(3)H4 → (3)F4, (3)H6 → (3)F4} cross-energy transfers.