Multiplicity of europium centers in doped stoichiometric crystals of lithium niobate
Abstract
The optical spectra of europium-doped stoichiometric lithium niobate (LiNbO3:Eu3+) crystals have been studied using combined excitation-luminescence spectroscopy in the range of 5D0 → 7F1, 7F0 optical transitions. Analysis of the results shows that Eu3+ ions can occupy 14 energetically nonequivalent positions in the LiNbO3 crystal lattice. This multiplicity of impurity centers is related to possible variants of the incorporation of Eu3+ ions into the LiNbO3 crystal lattice and the compensation of excess charge. Energy positions of the 5D0 level and the lowest sublevel of the 7F1 Stark multiplet are determined for Eu3+ centers of all 14 types.
- Publication:
-
Technical Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- April 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1134/S1063785007040190
- Bibcode:
- 2007TePhL..33..337K
- Keywords:
-
- 78.60.-b;
- 77.84.Bw