Homogeneous and inhomogeneous linewidths of Eu3+ in disordered crystalline systems.

Abstract

The role of disorder on the inhomogeneous and homogeneous linewidths of ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}$ in single crystals with various degrees of disorder is described for samples grown by LHPG (laser-heated pedestal growth). Emission spectra, hole-burning spectra, and results of the two-pulse photon echo are reported for ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sc}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (x=0.04,0.3,1) and YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia). For the ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sc}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ system, the inhomogeneous linewidths increase with x while the homogeneous linewidths are nearly independent of x. Dynamics associated with low-frequency excitations observed previously in x=0 LHPG samples are nearly absent for x>0. However, both the static and dynamic properties of YSZ show behavior which is characteristic of amorphous systems like silicate glass.