Luminescence self-quenching from 4F3/2, 2P3/2 and 4D3/2 neodymium levels in double sodium–yttrium fluoride crystals

We studied both theoretically and experimentally the luminescence self-quenching in Nd3+ : Na0.4Y0.6F2.2 (NNd=0.3–10 at%) crystals. Luminescence decays of 4F3/2, 2P3/2 and 4D3/2 levels were recorded under direct selective laser excitation. On the basis of known line strengths of transitions between Nd levels and characteristics of host-matrix, we estimated the microparameters and macrorates of migration and self-quenching with the method of model quantum-mechanical calculation. Calculated luminescence kinetics and experimental curves are in good agreement with allowance for a large inhomogeneous line broadening in the optical spectra and multipole–multipole Nd–Nd couplings.