Decay mechanism of theν3865 cm−1vibration of oxygen in crystalline germanium

Abstract

The 3 ͑862.5 cm −1 ͒ vibration of oxygen in crystalline germanium is shown to decay into one 1 local mode of the oxygen center plus two lattice modes. This description predicts increases in the linewidths in 16 O-doped germanium, and decreases in the linewidths in 18 O-doped germanium, as the Ge mass in the Ge-O-Ge complex increases, in agreement with observation. The decay time is expected to vary only slightly with the isotope of oxygen, as observed, and the smallest reported linewidths are consistent with the measured decay times.