Optical study of chromium doped LaGaO3 single crystal

Single crystals of LaGaO3 containing 0.1 at.% and 0.3 at.% of Cr3+ were gro wn by the Czochralski method and investigated in the 5-300 K temperature re gion using methods of spectroscopy. Energy levels relevant to experimentall y observed transitions have been located based on absorption measurements. Emission spectra of Cr3+ in LaGaO3 are consistent with a strong crystal fie ld case in which the E-2 state is the lowest. Room temperature luminescence consists of a broad band stretching from about 12700 cm(-1) to 15000 cm(-1 ). At low temperature two sharp R-1 and R-2 lines of isolated Cr3+ ions and a single N line associated with the exchange coupled Cr3+ pairs have been located. Influence of temperature on linewidth and lineshift of no-phonon l ines has been examined. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rig hts reserved.