Luminescence and defects creation in Ce3+-doped Lu3Al5O12 crystals

Luminescence, energy transfer and defects creation processes were studied at 4.2-300 K for Ce3+-doped Lu(3)Al(5)O(12)crystals under excitation in the 2.5-11.5 eV energy range. The results obtained were compared with the characteristics of Y3Al5O12: Ce crystals. It was concluded that in both systems the efficiency of energy transfer from the host lattice to the impurity ion can be noticeably increased by the decrease of concentration of the defects responsible for their intrinsic luminescence. The origin of the optically created defects and possible mechanisms of their formation are discussed. (C) 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.