High temperature luminescence of ZnSe:Yb crystals

Abstract

The problem of obtaining of effective edge luminescence with high temperature stability in the zinc selenide crystals is discussed. This task is solved by using as the dopant rare-earth element yttrium, which is introduced into the undoped ZnSe crystal by diffusion method. Doping was carried out in an evacuated to 10 –4 Torr. and a sealed quartz ampoule, in the opposite ends of which is a sample and a mixture of the crushed Yb and Se. It has been found that the diffusion coefficient of yttrium at a temperature of 1400 K is about 5•10 –7 cm 2/sec. It is shown that in the luminescence spectra of ZnSe:Yb samples in the temperature range 295—470 K only blue band is observed. Dependencies of parameters of this band from the excitation level are typical for the annihilation of excitons at their inelastic scattering by free carriers. The efficacy of blue radiation at 300 K is about 30% and does not fall more than twice with increasing temperature up to 470 K, indicating its high thermal stability.