Multiphonon relaxation of excited states of rare-earth ions in YVO$sub 4$, YAsO$sub 4$, and YPO$sub 4$

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1973 · Phys. Rev., B, v. 8, no. 3, pp. 980-987

OSTI ID:4404363

Reed, Jr, E D; Moos, H W

The multiphonon relaxation process has been studied in the host crystals YVO/sub 4/, YAsO/sub 4/, and YPO/sub 4/ using the rare earths Ho/sup 3+ /, Er/sup 3+/, Eu/sup 3+/, and Pr/sup 3+/ as probes. Lifetimes were measured with the phase-shi ft technique using a high-frequency (60-kHz maximum) mechanical light chopper of new design. Measurements were made of the multiphonon relaxation rate at 4.2 deg K on many of the rae-earth J manifolds, and of the temperature dependence of the rate for selected manifolds. Vibronic sidebands were recorded for YVO/sub 4/ and YAsO/sub 4/. Both the 4.2 deg K multiphonon decay rate as a function of energy gap to the next lower manifold and the temperature dependences of these rates indicate that individual peaks in the phonon energy distribution (as determined from the vibronics) play a strong role in the decay, in contrast to previous results. (auth)

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
• NSA Number: NSA-29-005565
• OSTI ID: 4404363
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., B, v. 8, no. 3, pp. 980-987, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

N50330* -Metals
Ceramics
& Other Materials-Plastics & Other Materials-Properties
Structure & Phase Studies
*ARSENATES- DOPED MATERIALS
*VANADATES- DOPED MATERIALS
*YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS- RELAXATION
*YTTRIUM PHOSPHATES- DOPED MATERIALS
ERBIUM IONS
EUROPIUM IONS
EXCITED STATES
HOLMIUM IONS
PHONONS
PRASEODYMIUM IONS