Defect luminescence in cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet

Abstract

The absorption and photoluminescence of lattice defects and of the cerium ion (Ce+3) in cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet have been measured after annealing single crystals of this material in various reducing atmospheres. The absorption in the 200–300-nm wavelength range is observed to decrease as the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in the annealing atmosphere decreases, while both the cerium emission at 550 nm and the lattice defect luminescence at 300 nm increases. The lattice defect emission appears to be associated with electrons located on oxygen vacancies.