We are exploring the potential of Praseodymium (Pr³+) as a dopant in low-phonon chloride hosts, CsCdCl3 and CsPbCl3. Pr3+ possesses favorable absorption bands (3H4 → 3F3,4) in the ~1.5 µm range, amendable to efficient laser diode or fiber laser pumping, as well as group of energy levels with energy gaps enabling mid-IR emissions in the 3-5 micron wavelength range of practical interest. In this work, spectroscopic investigation of Pr3+ aimed to also determine whether the “three-for-one” processes boosting the efficiency of mid-IR emission can be observed in these new materials. Detailed spectroscopic results including Judd-Ofelt analysis, transitions cross-sections, and fluorescence dynamics will be discussed and their potential for efficient mid-IR laser operation will be evaluated.
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