Photoluminescence and excited states dynamics in PbWO4:Pr3+ crystals

Luminescence and photo-thermally stimulated defects creation processes are studied for a Pr3+-doped PbWO4 crystal at 4.2-400 K under excitation in the band-to-band, exciton, and charge-transfer transitions regions, as well as in the Pr3+-related absorption bands. Emission spectra of Pr3+ centers depend on the excitation energy, indicating the presence of Pr3+ centers of two types. The origin of these centers is discussed. The 2.03-2.06 eV emission, arising from the 1D2→3H4 transitions of Pr3+ ions, is found to be effectively excited in a broad intense absorption band peaking at 4.2 K at 3.92 eV. By analogy with some other Pr3+-doped compounds, this band is suggested to arise from an electron transfer from an impurity Pr3+ ion to the crystal lattice W6+ or Pb2+ ions. The dynamics of the Pr3+-related excited states is clarified. In the PbWO4:Pr crystal studied, the concentration of single oxygen and lead vacancies as traps for electrons and holes is found to be negligible.