The incorporation of Nd3+ in the ferroelectric fluoride BaMgF4 crystal is investigated for its potential application as self-frequency-converter solid state laser. Low temperature high-resolution optical spectroscopy shows that Nd3+ is located at two well distinguished sites referred as A and B. The whole set of energy levels in the excited F43/2, I411/2, and ground I49/2 states are identified for both Nd3+ sites and their crystallographic location in BaMgF4 lattice is discussed. The radiative lifetime of the F43/2 metastable laser level is obtained to be 1430 and 800 μs for site A and B, respectively, and the luminescence quantum efficiency of the F43/2 metastable state for the dominant A site is 87%. The possibility of annihilating the contribution of the B site in the optical spectrum is demonstrated by means of the incorporation Na+ into the crystal.

We report on the preparation and optical characterization of a two-dimensional multicolor emission arrangement obtained by embedding high refractive-index Er3+ doped CaTiO3 nanoparticles into a Nd3+ doped LiNbO3 crystal substrate prepatterned with an array of microvoids. By controlling the spatial location of the rare earth ions at the micrometer scale, we show the possibility of simultaneous spatial and spectral control of the spontaneous emission in a two-dimensional rare earth optically activated array. The results can be useful for the development of microcomposite rare earth based photonic devices, such as multicolor emission displays or pixelated color structures.

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Ferroelectric domain patterns are used as templates on which rare earth doped high refractive index nanoparticles activated with trivalent rare earth ions (RE(3+)) are selectively assembled on domain surfaces with a specific polarization. Two-dimensional luminescent heterostructures, with sizes and geometries defined by the ferroelectric patterning are achieved. The process of incorporation and consolidation of the optically active nanoparticles into the alternate domain structures leads to luminescent ring-shaped arrangements with innovative geometries and to a micrometer spatial control of the trivalent rare earth ion emitters. Multicolor emission systems and the possibility of chromatic switching at the micrometer scale among the three different compounds forming the two dimensional structure is demonstrated.

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