ANOMALOUSLY HIGH PHOTOVOLTAGES IN TERBIUM MOLYBDATE

In terbium molybdate Tb-2(MoO4)(3) at room temperature, a laser beam o f wavelength lambda(1)=4880 Angstrom induces an electric polarization that lasts for several days after the irradiation is turned off. The p hotoinduced polarization has the same sign as the spontaneous polariza tion. At a laser power of 0.5 W and an exposure time of 3.5 h, the pho toinduced polarization exceeds the spontaneous polarization by an orde r of magnitude. The corresponding electric field is 2.5x10(6) V/cm. Un der the influence of radiation with lambda(1)=4880 Angstrom, terbium m olybdate luminesces in the green part of the spectrum near lambda(2) a pproximate to 5425 Angstrom. The luminescence quantum yield is 20%. (C ) 1998 American Institute of Physics.