Short pulse laser-induced fluorescence experiments on the lowest-energy electronic states of trivalent praseodymium ions are reported. Crystals of lanthanum trichloride with a range of concentrations were examined. We compute cross relaxation and upconversion coefficients for the metastable energy levels using a standard rate equation analysis. The limitations of the rate equation approach are examined with a focus on the underlying dynamics of this rare-earth system. The implications of these results for laser emission in the 1.3–7.2 μm spectral range are discussed.
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1997
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