Change of spectral output with pressure and white light generation in nanoscale Yb3+:Y2Si2O7

Abstract We report the drastic dependence on pressure of the spectral output of sol–gel derived Yb3+:Y2Si2O7 nanoparticles when excited with the 950 nm emission of a laser diode. The average particle size was estimated 40 nm. The spectrum obtained at atmospheric pressure consisted of an intense blue band. At low pressure the spectrum changed to a wide optical band.