Upconversion processes in coupled ion systems

Abstract After a brief history, the basic processes involved in up-conversion by energy transfer (Addition de Photons par Transferts d'Energie: APTE effect) are recalled. They are distinguished from other multiphoton effects which may take place in parallel, such as cooperative sensitization cooperative luminescence and harmonic generation. The relative orders of magnitude of these different up-conversion processes are given. Practically, up-conversion by APTE is usually so dominant that cooperative effects are shown to be clearly observable only when APTE effects cannot take place due to either a large energy mismatch between single ion levels of adjacent ions or due to lack of energy diffusion resulting from low ion concentrations. An overview of recent results showing the positive and negative implications of up-conversion by energy transfer in the detection and generation of photons as well as in visual display systems, is finally given.

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