A spectroscopic and Judd–Ofelt analysis of the relaxation dynamics of Tm3+ in the fluorapatites, FAP, S-FAP, and B-FAP

Abstract The spectroscopic analysis of the absorption properties of the Tm3+ ion in the three fluorapatite crystals has been performed. Using the room temperature absorption data, the spontaneous emission rates, cross-sections and cross-relaxation rates have been determined using Judd–Ofelt theory. Based on emission lifetimes and emission cross-sections for the 3 F 4 → 3 H 6 and 3 H 4 → 3 H 6 transition, as well as the rate of energy transfer by cross-relaxation, the probabilities of cross-relaxation and population inversion by cross-relaxation compare favorably to other laser hosts such as YLF and YAG.