EXCITED-STATE ABSORPTION IN AN YTTRIUM-AL UMINUM-GARNET CRYSTAL DOPEDWITH V3+ IONS

The differential absorption spectra of an Y3Al5O12:V3+ crystal were in vestigated by a picosecond excite-and-probe method. An analysis of the results led to the conclusion that the induced absorption bands obser ved in the 850-890 and 650-770 nm ranges were due to, respectively, th e (1)E(D-1) --> T-1(1)((1)G) and (1)E(D-1) --> (1)E((1)G), T-1(2)((1)G ) transitions in a tetrahedrally coordinated V3+ ion. The lifetime of the (1)E(D-1) level was estimated to be similar to 130 ps. Bleaching o f the (3)A(2) --> T-3(1)(P-3) absorption band of the tetrahedral V3+ i on was also observed.