Effects of growth atmosphere and annealing on luminescence efficiency of YAP:Ce crystal

YAlO3:Ce3+ (YAP:Ce) single crystals were successfully grown by the Czochralski method. The effects of growth atmosphere and annealing on the luminescence efficiency of YAP:Ce crystals were investigated. The mechanism of self-absorption of YAP:Ce crystal was discussed which was confirmed to be one of the factors that influenced the luminescence efficiency. Comparison of samples grown in different atmosphere showed that reducing atmosphere has great advantages on reducing the self-absorption and improving the luminescence intensity of YAP:Ce crystals.