Several　Er　doped　(0.2　at%,　0.5　at%,　and　1.0　at%)　PbWO4　single　crystals　were　grown　by　Bridgman　method　with　the　size　of　Φ20　×　100　mm.　The　absorption　spectra　of　Er:PWO　samples　were　measured　to　investigate　the　spectral　properties　of　Er3+　ions　according　to　Judd-Ofelt　theory.　The　phenomenological　intensity　parameters　Ωλ　were　fitted　to　calculate　the　spectral　parameters　of　several　radiative　transitions　of　Er　3+　ions,　and　the　possibility　of　4I13/2→　4I15/2　transition　at　about　1.5　μm　of　Er3+　ions　in　PWO　crystal　was　also　discussed.　The　energy　transfer　from　PWO　matrix　to　Er3+　ions　was　investigated　based　on　the　photoluminescence　spectra,　and　the　frequency　shifting　effect　of　Er3+　ions　on　PWO　crystal　was　discussed　according　to　the　spontaneous　Raman　spectra.　The　1.5　μm　fluorescence　spectra　of　different　Er:PWO　samples　were　measured　under　the　excitation　at　980　nm.　©　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.