Full Length ArticleThe temperature dependence studies of rare-earth (Dy3+, Sm3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+) activated Gd3Ga3Al2O12 garnet single crystals

The luminescence properties of the Dy3+, Sm3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+ activated Gd3Ga3Al2O12 (GGAG) single crystals were investigated as a function of temperature. The photoluminescence excitation, emission and decay kinetic analysis revealed an efficient energy transfer from Gd3+ ions towards all the Dy3+, Sm3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+ activators. The intensity ratio between electric dipole and magnetic dipole emission transitions in activator׳s ions suggested a high homogeneity of the host lattice grown by Czochralski technique. Only the Gd3Ga3Al2O12 single crystal activated with Dy3+ ions exhibited a stable luminescence up to 800 K. The Sm3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped Gd3Ga3Al2O12 single crystals showed the onset of the thermal quenching of luminescence at lower temperatures. We proposed three different models, very well-known from the literature, to explain the mechanisms responsible for thermal quenching of activator׳s luminescence in Gd3Ga3Al2O12 single crystal.