Ion-Beam Induced Luminescence and Damage of Er₂O₃

Abstract

Ion-beam induced luminescence of sintered Er₂O₃ samples irradiated by Ar⁺ ion-beams was measured in a visible range. In this experiment, three emission bands were observed at 500-520, 540-570, and 640-690 nm. The measured luminescence band at 640-690 nm is resolved into Lorentzian Stark component having a ∼10¹² Hz width in frequency. Center wavelengths of the Stark components agree with those of intra-4f transitions of Er³⁺(4f¹¹) ions situated at C₂ symmetry cation sites in pure Er₂O₃. However, resonance broadening due to nearby Er³⁺ in the crystal accounts only 1% of the total width. Depopulation of the crystalline oxide in irradiated regions is inferred from decreasing intensity of the emission band at 640-690 nm during continuous irradiation. The emission bands at 500-520 and 540-570 nm still remained in heavily damaged samples look similar with those observed with a metallic Er target.