Photoluminescent changes of Eu3+ in ZnO-SiO2 glasses induced by femtosecond laser

The photoluminescent characteristics of Eu3+ ions in 10ZnO-90SiO(2) glasses before and after femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation were systematically compared and investigated. The results indicated that the absorption of charge transfer (CT) decreased and F-7(0)-F-7(6) transition of Eu3+ ions increased in irradiated glasses. According to emission spectra, relative intensity of D-5(0)-F-7(0) To transition and the intensity ratio of D-5(0)-F-7(2)/D-5(0)-F-7(1) transitions of Eu3+ in irradiated glasses evidently increased due to the changes of local structures around Eu3+. The dynamic processes indicated that the transition probability of electric dipole transitions of Eu3+ ions hardly changed before and after irradiation. The F-7(0)-D-5(0) excitation lines blue shifted after irradiation, implying that the structure changes induced by fs laser irradiation took place. The efficiency of persistent spectral hole-burning (PSHB) of Eu3+ ions in irradiated glasses remarkably increased in comparison with not irradiated glass. The fluorescence line narrow (FLN) spectra indicated that the microstructures changes surrounding Eu3+ ions induced by fs laser were observed. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.