Optical Spectra of Vanadium Ions in Yttrium Aluminum Garnet

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Abstract
Optical absorption and emission spectra of vanadium impurities in Y3Al5O12 crystals are reported. Crystals doped with vanadium only and with vanadium counterdoped with charge‐compensating calcium and silicon ions were studied. Possible valence states for vanadium include V2+, V3+, V4+; possible substitutional sites in the garnet lattice include octahedral Al3+, tetrahedral Al3+, and dodecahedral Y3+. The observed spectra are interpreted as arising from octahedrally coordinated V3+ and V4+ and tetrahedrally coordinated V3+ and V4+. No spectral evidence of V2+ or of vanadium in dodecahedral sites was found. Vanadium‐to‐neodymium energy transfer was also investigated and is discussed.