Abstract
The properties of Cr 3+ in LiNbO 3 single crystals have been investigated by means of several experiments including the recordings of absorption and high resolution laser spectroscopy spectra with dye-laser excitation spectra, emission spectra and fluorescence decays under laser selective pumping. Measurements performed on crystals with composition varying between congruent and close to stoichiometry enabled new features to be revealed which lead us to re-interpret the optical spectra of chromium-doped LN. Three chromium centres are sufficient to explain the main optical features. The main chromium centre labelled γ , giving rise to the broad absorption and emission bands, corresponds to the low-crystal field scheme where the 4 T 2 level is lower than 2 E. The two other chromium centres α and β yield sharp lines in emission and correspond to the high-crystal field scheme. Their dependencies on both the chromium concentration and the composition were studied using emission spectroscopy at low temperature. The main centre γ seems slightly affected by chromium concentration or composition change. The centres α and β are shown to be strongly connected to the presence in their surrounding of intrinsic defects related to the crystal non-stoichiometry. From their behaviour versus Cr concentration, the origin of these centres is discussed in terms of perturbed substitution.
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