Optical studies of cerium doped yttrium aluminum garnet single crystals

Single crystals of undoped and cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet have been pumped with laser radiation of 220- and 266-nm wavelength. A broadband defect emission at approximately 300 nm was observed, similar to that obtained with cathodoluminescence, although decreased in magnitude. Evidence of a transfer of energy from these defect states to the Ce⁺³ states was inferred from the photoluminescence decay time measurements. We have associated the absorption spectra from 200-300 nm with the defect excitation spectrum, including the peaks at 225 and 270 nm.