Near-infrared quantum cutting through a three-step energy transfer process in Nd³⁺–Yb³⁺co-doped fluoroindogallate glasses

The Nd(3+)-Yb(3+) couple was investigated in fluoroindogallate glasses using optical spectroscopy to elucidate the energy transfer mechanisms involved in the downconversion (DC) process. Upon excitation of a Nd(3+) ion by an ultraviolet photon, DC through a three-step energy transfer process occurs, in which the energy of the ultraviolet photon absorbed by the Nd(3+) ion is converted into three infrared photons emitted by Yb(3+) ions, i.e. quantum cutting (QC). In addition, with excitation in the visible, our results confirm that the DC process occurs through a one-step energy transfer process, in which the energy of a visible photon absorbed by the Nd(3+) ion is converted into only one infrared photon emitted by an Yb(3+) ion. Time-resolved measurements enabled the estimation of the efficiencies of the cross-relaxation processes between Nd(3+) and Yb(3+) ions.