Spectroscopic investigation and crystal field modelling of Dy³⁺and Er³⁺energy levels in yttrium aluminium borate (YAB) single crystals

Abstract

High resolution (0.04 cm−1) absorption spectra of Dy3+-doped YAl3(BO3)4 (YAB) single crystals were measured by Fourier transform spectroscopy in the spectral (2000–23 000 cm−1) and temperature (9–300 K) ranges. Samples with nominal 1 and 4% Dy/Y molar ratios were studied. Dy3+ transitions from the 6H15/2 ground state to the 6H13/2, 6H11/2, 6H9/2+ 6F11/2, 6H7/2+ 6F9/2, 6H5/2, 6F7/2, 6F5/2, 6F3/2, and 4F9/2 excited states were analysed. A small (∼3.3 cm−1) splitting between the first two sublevels of the 6H15/2 ground manifold was detected. The experimentally determined energy levels were fitted with a single-ion Hamiltonian and the crystal-field parameters were obtained. The same procedure was applied to analyse the previously published high resolution spectra of YAB:Er3+, leading to a reliable unified picture for the two dopants.

Luminescence of YAB:Er single crystal

“…The broad 4 T 2 → 4 A 2 (from 600 to 900 nm) and the sharp 2 E → 4 A 2 (681 and 684 nm) emissions were consistent with the data published in [11] Figure 1 shows the fine structure of the 4 S 3/2 → 4 I 15/2 emission of a YAB:Er(1%) sample at different temperatures. The Stark components identified in the luminescence spectra were in accordance with those derived from the high resolution absorption spectra for both A and B sublevels of the 4 S 3/2 manifold [3], and with the crystal field predictions [9]. Larger deviations occured when the related absorption positions could only be measured at room temperature with lower accuracy (e.g.…”

“…On the other hand, the A1 and B2 emissions were suppressed at higher Er concentrations. The lowest energy luminescence band (18002 cm -1 ) was attributed to phonon combination I 15/2 transition in the luminescence spectrum of YAB:Er 3+ single crystal at 10 K and 70 K. Measured (m) and derived (d) energy levels from high resolution absorption spectra [3] and theoretical predictions [9] are shown for comparison.…”

Optical second harmonic generation in Yttrium Aluminum Borate single crystals (theoretical simulation and experiment)

“…At the same time they are good matrices for different rare earth ions [8][9][10][11]. The existing data is restrained by consideration of the local crystalline fields and the influence of the rare earth ions [12][13][14][15]. Intrinsic defects also may play an important role in determining the optical susceptibilities [16,17].…”

High resolution absorption spectroscopy on rare earth doped insulating materials: BaY2F8 and YAl3(BO3)4 single crystals and sol‐gel silica glasses

“…Finally the Er 3+ narrow line detection will be exploited as a sensi-tive probe to understand nature and origin of different surroundings in SnO 2 : Er nanoclusters embedded in a sol-gel glassy silica matrix. [5][6][7], whereas the borates requires a flux growth technique such as the top seeded high temperature solution method (TSSG) [8][9][10]. The RE ions enter the host matrix substituting for the Y 3+ ions so that no charge compensation is required and a wide range of doping concentrations is available, e.g.…”

“…1d for an A1 line) can be discussed in terms of a non equivalent crystal fields experienced by the RE ions in the matrix as the doping level grows and an effective RE-RE interaction arises, which was attributed to more or less loose RE pairs (or clusters) formation. In some cases it is possible to identify more sets of energy level schemes associated to these additional lines which, in this way, provide an insight of the crystal field local modifications [5,9].…”