Inhomogeneity of Ho3+ activated SrLaGa3O7 and SrLaGaO4 crystals studied by fluorescence line narrowing technique

Abstract Spectroscopic properties of Ho 3+ in SrLaGa 3 O 7 (SLG) and SrLaGaO 4 (SLO) are studied using non-resonant fluorescence line narrowing technique. Spectrally-different ions in inhomogeneous absorption line of holmium are selectively excited. The low temperature emission and fluorescence decays from the 5 S 2 level of Ho 3+ ion after pulsed 5 I 8 → 5 S 2 excitation transition are investigated. The observed line-narrowed fluorescence is used to analyze the origin of spectral line broadening phenomenon in SLG and SLO hosts. Based on the experimental results an influence of the statistical distribution of La 3+ and Sr 2+ ions in crystal lattice on the spectroscopic properties of Ho 3+ is discussed.