Photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy of erbium-doped silicon-rich silicon oxide

The 1.54 mu m Er3+ photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of erbium-doped silicon-rich silicon oxide (SRSO) are investi gated. Between 350 and 820 nm, PLE spectra are broad and featureless, and t he PL spectra are independent of the excitation wavelengths. The results in dicate that in erbium-doped SRSO, the Er3+ luminescence is dominated by a s ingle class of Er sites with a strong coupling to all the carriers in the s ilicon nanograins. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)0 3313-1].