Irregular Ce3+ and defect-related luminescence in YAlO3 single crystal

Using the methods of time-resolved and steady-state luminescence spectroscopies, the luminescence and defects creation processes were studied at 4.2-300 K under excitation in the 3.0-10.5 eV energy range for an YAlO3:Ce crystal with very low concentration of Ce3+ ions. The results were compared with those obtained at the study of YAlO3:Ce crystals with large Ce3+ content coming from the same technological laboratory. Three irregular Ce3+ centers were found and two intrinsic defect luminescence centers related to the cation and oxygen vacancies were evidenced. The origin and structure of luminescence centers are discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.