Energy levels and emission parameters of the Dy(3+) ion doped into the YPO(4) host lattice

Single crystals of Dy(3+)-doped YPO(4) have been grown from Pb(2)P(2)O(7) flux and investigated by optical spectroscopy techniques. The energy level scheme of the active ion has been deduced from the low temperature spectra and reproduced by means of a crystal-field calculation. The room temperature absorption spectra have been analysed in the framework of the Judd-Ofelt approach, and the results of this analysis have been applied in a discussion concerning the spectral composition of the visible luminescence.