FLUORESCENCE LINE NARROWING SPECTROSCOPY OF EUROPIUM(III) IONS IN A FLUOROZIRCONATE GLASS

The environment of rare-earth ions in fluorozirconate-based glasses was investigated by fluorescence line narrowing spectroscopy using Eu3+ as a local site probe. A pulsed tuneable dye laser was used to excite the D-5(0) level of Eu3+, and the subsequent D-5(0) --> F-7(J) fluorescence spectra were recorded as a function of exciting wavelength. A series of D-5(0) excitation spectra was also taken, the emission monitored at various positions in the fluorescence spectra. The extra features Visible in some of these spectra are not due to two different site distributions as previously thought, but are an effect caused by simultaneous excitation into the D-5(0) phonon side band.