Effect of high-energy electron irradiation on forsterite laser crystals

The effect of 21-MeV electron irradiation on the optical absorption characteristics of Czochralski-grown forsterite (Mg 2 SiO 4 ) single crystals (both undoped and chromium-doped) has been investigated. The irradiation is found to induce additional optical absorption (AOA) in the crystals in the ran...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics and spectroscopy 2012-04, Vol.112 (4), p.537-544
Main Authors: Subbotin, K. A., Dudnikova, V. B., Zaitseva, O. N., Lazarenko, V. M., Kolokol’tsev, V. N., Tovtin, V. I., Zharikov, E. V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed-Matter Spectroscopy
Lasers
Optical Devices
Optics
Photonics
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
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Summary:The effect of 21-MeV electron irradiation on the optical absorption characteristics of Czochralski-grown forsterite (Mg 2 SiO 4 ) single crystals (both undoped and chromium-doped) has been investigated. The irradiation is found to induce additional optical absorption (AOA) in the crystals in the range of 225–1200 nm due to the formation of color centers based on intrinsic host point defects and the change in the oxidation state of chromium ions. The AOA spectra have been decomposed into elementary bands. The influence of the chromium concentration in crystals, the oxygen content in the growth atmosphere, and additional doping with lithium on the behavior of these bands has been analyzed. A possible structure of the color centers responsible for the AOA is discussed. It is shown that the electron irradiation somewhat decreases the intensity of the characteristic absorption bands of tri- and tetravalent chromium ions and gives rise to a new absorption band in Mg 2 SiO 4 :Cr and Mg 2 SiO 4 :Cr,Li crystals heavily doped with chromium.
ISSN:0030-400X
1562-6911
DOI:10.1134/S0030400X12040224