Magnetism and 166Er Mössbauer spectroscopy of Er2−xPrxCo17

The bulk magnetic properties and ¹⁶⁶Er Mössbauer spectra of Er_2?xPr_xCo₁₇ pseudo-binaries are reported. Incorporation of Pr into Er₂Co₁₇ increases the anisotropy field (H_A) and the saturation magnetization, while resulting in only a slight (5%) decrease in the Curie temperature. The quadrupole interaction deduced from the Mössbauer spectrum suggests that Pr preferentially substitutes for Er in Er₂Co₁₇ at the 2d site. The rise in H_A is a consequence of the preferential substitution, which occurs because spatial constraints at the 2d site are less for the larger Pr³⁺ ion. Coupling between Er-Co and Pr-Co is found to be antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic, respectively.     

Magnetic order observed in Er6Mn23H21 using the Mössbauer effect

The ferrimagnetic compound Er₆Mn₂₃ and its hydride Er₆Mn₂₃H₂₁ have been investigated using the ¹⁶⁶Er and ⁵⁷Fe (as dilute impurity) Mössbauer resonances. For the hydride a small ⁵⁷Fe magnetic hyperfine field is observed below 85 K indicating magnetic ordering. This observation is contrary to the previous assumption that the Mn sublattice must be non-magnetic. The ¹⁶⁶Er results demonstrate that the Er³⁺ magnetic moment is not “quenched” by crystal electric fields on hydrogenation.     

Visible luminescence of nanocrystalline AlN:Er thin film by co-deposition of AlN,Er, and SiO2

We report a visible luminescence of Er³⁺ ions in an amorphous-nanocrystalline AlN:Er thin film prepared by co-deposition using AlN, Er, and SiO₂ targets. A PL emission spectrum of Er³⁺ in the AlN:Er film annealed at 750 °C showed a strong bluish green emission of Er³⁺ in the amorphous-nanocrystalline AlN:Er thin film, which is attributed to the intra-4fEr³⁺ transitions of ²H_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2 and ⁴F_7/2 → ⁴I_15/2. It was found that crystallite diameters were between 3 and 5 nm by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The occurrence of the strong Er³⁺ emission in the annealed AlN:Er thin film with a mixture of amorphous and nanocrystalline phases may be contributed to an increase in the number of excitation Er³⁺ centers and a presence of oxygen related to Er³⁺ excitation and recombination process in the AlN:Er thin film.     

Incommensurate magnetic structure and crystal field in ErNi2B2C Studied by 166Er Mössbauer spectroscopy and specific heat measurements

¹⁶⁶Er Mössbauer absorption spectra have been recorded in the superconductor ErNi₂B₂C (T _c = 10 K), in zero field and in the temperature range 1.4 K–40 K. The spectra in the magnetically ordered phase (T _N ? 5.5 K) are characteristic of an incommensurate magnetic structure with a maximum Er³⁺ moment of 8.2 μB. We show that the magnetic transition is first order, with a small temperature range where magnetically ordered and paramagnetic domains coexist. The analysis of the magnetic and quadrupolar hyperfine interactions below and above T _N suggests that the Er³⁺ ground doublet is close to |J = 15/2; J _z = ± 1/2 > and shows that there is a low lying (? 10 K) excited doublet. The measured Er³⁺ electronic relaxation rate 1/T₁ shows an anomaly at 10 K (T _c suggesting that the conduction electrons that are exchange coupled to the 4f spin take part in the formation of the superconducting state. We also present specific heat data for Er _x Y_{1 ? x} Ni₂B₂C and Er_0.2Lu_0.8Ni₂B₂C which also evidence a low lying doublet and from which we propose a modified (improved) Er³⁺ crystal field level scheme (0, 9, 62, 71, 73, 181, 212 and 216 K) where the energies of the higher levels are consistent with published neutron scattering data.     

Crystal field investigations of Yb(C2H5SO4)3. 9H2O and Er: YA1G

Using the spectroscopically derived crystal field parameters for Yb(C₂H₅SO₄)₃. 9H₂O and Er³⁺: YA1G, the temperature dependence of Schottky specific heat, paramagnetic susceptibility, magnetic anisotropy and μ_eff has been calculated over a temperature range 5–400°K. The hyperfine interaction parameters for ¹⁷¹Yb³⁺, ¹⁷³Yb³⁺ and ¹⁶⁷Er³⁺ systems are also obtained and in turn used to estimate the nuclear specific heat. The nice agreement obtained for susceptibility and specific heat of Yb(C₂H₅SO₄)₃. 9H₂O at very low temperatures confirms the accuracy of CEF parameters employed and the neglect of exchange interaction. However, for Er³⁺: YA1G, the CEF parameters are adequate to explain the bulk thermal and magnetic properties but not the g-values.     

Magnetic properties of ErIG and approximation of isotropic exchange

A one-ion model calculation which considers the Er³⁺ ion subject to the crystal field, the isotropic exchange field and the applied magnetic field is compared with the following experimental data: the easy axis direction, the transition temperature, the temperature and field dependence of the magnetization, the compensation temperature, the magnetocrystalline anisotropy and the umbrella structure of Er³⁺ magnetic moments in ErIG. The crystal field parameters in Y(Er)GG and ErGG are discussed and determined first. The same parameters are used for ErIG, only those of second order are allowed to vary. In spite of the isotropic exchange approximation, the experiments (except the controversial umbrella structure and anisotropy data) are well reproduced within the framework of this model. Further improvements are expected by inclusion of the anisotropy of the exchange interaction.Dedicated to Dr. Svatopluk Krupika on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

The influence of magnetic ordering on the superconducting properties of amorphous (Zr1−xErx)3Rh alloys

The effect of Er impurities on the superconducting properties of an amorphous Zr₃Rh alloy has been studied. The Er impurities are found to exhibit magnetic behavior characteristic of a free Er³⁺ ion in a weak crystal field. Magnetic ordering of the Er moments is observed to occur at a temperature T_M which is proportional to the Er concentration. This ordering strongly influences superconductivity as evidenced by anomalous behavior in the concentration dependence of T_c. For concentrations near the critical Abrikosov-Gor'kov value, superconductivity appears to be induced by magnetic ordering. The superconducting critical field H_c2(T) is strongly effected by magnetic ordering and can be used to deduce information concerning the nature of the ordering. The results are analyzed in terms of theoretical models.     

Two independent magnetic sublattices of Er in the Er5 − x LaxGe3 system

Magnetic measurements of Er_{5 ? x} La_xGe₃ with 1 ? x ? 5 have been done between 4·2 and room temperature. The compounds crystallize in the hexagonal (D8₈) structure (Mn₅Si₃ type) with space group P6₃/mcm. Two independent, ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic, sublattices of Er exist. The magnetic interaction between the Er atoms in the 6(g) sites is ferromagnetic, while that between the Er atoms in the 4(d) sites is antiferromagnetic. The antiferromagnetic exchange interaction is weak in this system. The first and second La atom substitutes into the 6(g) site, while the third La in Er₂La₃Ge₃ is located in the 4(d) position. The fourth La is probably substituted in such a manner that all the Er atoms are left in the 6(g) sites.     

Crystalline-structure-dependent green and red upconversion emissions of Er-Yb-Li codoped TiO2

Crystalline structures and infrared-to-visible upconversion luminescence spectra have been investigated in 1 mol% Er³⁺, 10 mol% Yb³⁺ and 0-20 mol% Li⁺ codoped TiO₂ [1Er10Yb(0-20)Li:TiO₂] nanocrystals. The crystalline structures of 1Er10Yb(0-20)Li:TiO₂ were divided into three parts by the addition of Yb³⁺ and Li⁺. Both green and red upconversion emissions were observed from the ²H_11/2/⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transitions of Er³⁺ in Er³⁺-Yb³⁺-Li⁺ codoped TiO₂, respectively. The green and red upconversion emissions of 1Er:TiO₂ were enhanced significantly by Yb³⁺ and Li⁺ codoping, in which the intensities of green and red emissions and the intensity ratio of green to red emissions (I_green/I_red) were highly dependent on the crystalline structures. The significant enhanced upconversion emissions resulted from the energy migration between Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ as well as the distortion of crystal field symmetry of Er³⁺ caused by the dissolving of Li⁺ at lower Li⁺ codoping concentration and the phase transformation at higher Li⁺ concentration. It is concluded that codoping with ions of smaller ionic radius like Li⁺ can efficiently improve the upconversion emissions of Er³⁺ or other rare-earth ions doped luminsecence materials.     

On the behaviour of Er3+ ion in tetragonal crystalline field

Crystal field parameters for ErGaG and Er³⁺ YAlG and used to compute the temperature dependence of Schottky specific heat, paramagnetic susceptibility, magnetic anisotropy,μ _eff and quadrupole splitting in the range 10–400 K. The hyperfine interaction parametersA andB for¹⁶⁶Er and¹⁶⁷Er in both the systems are also obtained and in turn used to estimate the nuclear specific heat contribution. The studied parameters compare well with the available experimental results.     

Visible upconversion emission and non-radiative direct Yb to Er energy transfer processes in nanocrystalline ZrO2:Yb,Er

Wide band gap Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ codoped ZrO₂ nanocrystals have been synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. Under 967 nm excitation strong green and red upconversion emission is observed for several Er³⁺ to Yb³⁺ ions concentration ratios. A simple microscopic rate equation model is used to study the effects of non-radiative direct Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ energy transfer processes on the visible and near infrared fluorescence decay trends of both Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ ions. The microscopic rate equation model takes into account the crystalline phase as well as the size of nanocrystals. Nanocrystals phase and size were estimated from XRD patterns. The rate equation model succeeds to fit simultaneously all visible and near infrared fluorescence decay profiles. The dipole-dipole interaction parameters that drive the non-radiative energy transfer processes depend on doping concentration due to crystallite phase changes. In addition the non-radiative relaxation rate (⁴I_11/2→⁴I_13/2) is found to be greater than that estimated by the Judd-Ofelt parameters due to the action of surface impurities. Results suggest that non-radiative direct Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ energy transfer processes in ZrO₂:Yb,Er are extremely efficient.     

Effective excitation cross section and lifetime of Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in Si: Er light-emitting diodes fabricated by sublimation molecular-beam epitaxy

A series of Si: Er electroluminescent diode structures is fabricated by sublimation molecular-beam epitaxy. The diode structures efficiently emit at a wavelength of 1.5 μm under conditions of p-n junction breakdown at room temperature. The effective cross section of excitation of Er³⁺ ions with hot carriers heated by the electric field of a reverse-biased p-n junction and the lifetime of Er³⁺ ions in the first excited state ⁴I_13/2 are determined for structures that emit in a mixed breakdown mode and are characterized by the maximum intensity and excitation efficiency of the Er³⁺ electroluminescence.     

Er,Yb:YAG微晶玻璃发光特性的研究

高温熔制Er³⁺，Yb³⁺离子掺杂CaO-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂系统玻璃，并进行微晶化处理，研究了微晶玻璃中Er³⁺离子的发光及上转换发光特性，分析了微晶玻璃上转换发光机理.结果表明：原始玻璃经热处理得到了Er,Yb:YAG微晶玻璃，微晶玻璃中Er³⁺离子在室温下⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2跃迁产生横盖1450—1650nm区间的超宽带荧光，荧光半高宽达180nm，这可能由于YAG微晶相中Er³⁺离子与玻璃相中残留Er³⁺离子的共同发光；Er³⁺与Yb³⁺离子局域基质声子能量的降低使微晶玻璃Er³⁺离子上转换发光强度与原始玻璃相比显著提高，绿光、红光上转换荧光强度比玻璃样品分别增强约7和3倍；微晶化后Er³⁺，Yb³⁺离子局域环境发生变化也导致微晶玻璃中Er³⁺离子绿光、红光上转换发光相对强度发生变化. 关键词： 铒 镱:钇铝石榴石 微晶玻璃 荧光光谱     

Faraday rotation in single crystal erbium iron garnet

Measurements of the Faraday rotation of ErIG, Er₃Fe₅O₁₂, have been performed in the 4.2–300 K temperature range in magnetic field up to 20 kOe applied along the [111] direction and at 1.15 μm wavelength. The results are analysed under the assumption that the contribution of the Fe³⁺ ions to the total Faraday rotation is the same as that of YIG, Y₃Fe₅O₁₂. The temperature and field dependences of the contribution of the Er³⁺ ions are deduced. Both magnetic and electric dipole contributions of the Er³⁺ ions are calculated; the electric dipole coefficient C_e is found to present a linear temperature dependence between 30–300 K. The temperature dependence of the Faraday rotation susceptibility differs strongly from that of the magnetic susceptibility.     

Concentration quenching in erbium-doped tellurite glasses

Er₂O₃-doped TeO₂-ZnO-La₂O₃ modified tellurite glasses were prepared by the conventional melt-quenching method, and the Er³⁺: ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 fluorescence properties have been studied for different Er³⁺ concentrations. Infrared spectra were measured in order to estimate the exact content of OH⁻ groups in samples. Based on the electric dipole-dipole interaction theory, the interaction parameter, C_Er,Er, for the migration rate of Er³⁺: ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_13/2 in modified tellurite glass was calculated. Finally, the concentration quenching mechanism using a model based on energy transfer and quenching by hydroxyl (OH⁻) groups was presented.     

Neutron diffraction study of RMn4Al8 (R = Nd,Dy, Ho,Er), ErCr4Al8 and ErCu4Al8

Neutron powder diffraction has been used to investigate the magnetic order in a series of RMn₄Al₈ (space group I₄/mmm) compounds with R = (Nd, Dy, Ho and Er). For compounds with Mn, no magnetic order was detected down to 1.6 K, whilst for the compound ErCr₄Al₈, two very weak magnetic reflections were observed at 1.6 K. The observed magnetic peaks cannot be indexed on the tetragonal unit cell, indicating a possible incommensurate magnetic structure. For ErCu₄Al₈, a type 1 antiferromagnetic structure is observed. The magnitude and temperature dependence of the Er³⁺ magnetic moment can be adequately modelled by a combined isotropic exchange and tetragonal crystal field Hamiltonian within the Mean Field Approximation.     

Untersuchungen an magnetischen Phasen intermetallischer Erbiumverbindungen

The Mössbauer effect of the 80.6 keVγ-transition of Er¹⁶⁶ has been employed to study the temperature dependence of the nuclear hyperfine splitting of Er¹⁶⁶. The Er isotope was introduced into the intermetallic compounds ErCo₂, ErCo_0.5Ni_0.5, ErCoNi, ErNi₂ and ErAg. Except for ErCo₂, all the compounds exhibit a behaviour typical for electronic relaxation phenomena. The system ErCo₂ shows at 35 °K a magnetic phase transition of the first order which is discussed in the framework of the theory ofBean andRodbell. Calorimetric data, low-temperature X-ray measurements and magnetization data are in agreement with the Mössbauer data. In ErAg and in ErNi₂ the Er³⁺-moment is partially quenched by the interaction with the crystalline electric field. The ErCo₂ data may be interpreted in terms of an undisturbed \({}^4I_{15/2^ - } \) multiplet.     

Energy transfer and fluorescence characteristics of erbium-doped ytterbium aluminum garnet

We have examined the fluorescence characteristics of the garnet-type crystal Yb₃Al₅O₁₂ : Er³⁺ (YbAlG : Er³⁺) and studied the energy transfer process between the two rare earth ions over a temperature range 78–297 K. Certain data were compared with those of YAlG : Er³⁺. In YbAlG : Er³⁺, Yb fluorescence is observed at ?1.03 μm (corresponding to the ²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 transition); Er fluorescence occurs at ?8500 Å (⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_13/2 transition) and ?1.6 μm (⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition). In YAlG : Er³⁺, the same Er lines are observed with the addition of a band at ?1 μ (⁴I_11/2→⁴I_15/2 transition). In YbAlG : Er³⁺, the decay pattern of the Yb emission is purely exponential at all the temperatures examined; the fluorescence lifetime ranges from 36 μ s (at 78 K) to 74 μs(at 269 K). The lifetime of the Er⁴I_13/2 level in the same sample increases from 5.4 ms (at 78 K) to 6.85 ms (at 294 K). The lifetime of this Er level in YAlG : Er³⁺ is weakly temperature dependent over the same range with a value of ?12 ms. Excitation spectra were obtained for the Er 1.53 μm fluorescence in YbAlG : Er³⁺ in order to verify the presence of Yb → Er energy transfer in this sample. The presence of the Yb absorption band (?1 μm) in these spectra provides direct evidence of this energy transfer. The relative enhancement of this Yb band with respect to the Er bands in going from 78 K to 175 K is an indication of a more efficient transfer at the higher temperature. Excitation spectra obtained for the Yb 1.03 μm fluorescence in YbAlG : Er³⁺ revealed the presence of Er → Yb energy transfer as well in this sample. The existence of both Yb → Er and Er → Yb transfer is expected, due to the resonance between the ⁴I_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of Er and the ²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 transition of Yb. The above results are explained in terms of a rate equation model in which transfer in both directions is treated in the following manner: Yb → Er transfer is considered to be much more probable than decay processes originating at the Yb ²F_5/2 level; Er → Yb transfer is treated as much more probable than decay processes originating at the Er ⁴I_11/2 level.     

Magnetic tri-axial orientation in (Y1−xErx)2Ba4Cu7O15−y superconductors

We report the tri-axial grain-orientation effects under a modulated rotation magnetic field for (Y_1?xEr_x)₂Ba₄Cu₇O_y [(Y, Er)247]. The magnetic easy axis at room temperature was drastically changed around x ～ 0.1; however, the Er-doping levels for the conversion of magnetic easy axes from the c-axis to the ab-direction and from the a- to b-axes were quite different. Tri-axial single-ion magnetic anisotropy of Er³⁺ was roughly 10 times greater than tri-axial magnetic anisotropy generated by both the superconducting CuO₂ plane and the blocking Cu–O chain layer. An appropriate choice of rare-earth (RE) ions in RE-based cuprate superconductors enables the reduction of the required magnetic field for the production of bulks and thick films based on the magnetic orientation technique.     

Theoretical explanations to the EPR g factors for Er3+ ion in La2−xSrxCuO4 superconductor

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) g factors g_∥ and g_⊥ for Er³⁺ ion in La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ superconductor are theoretically explained by using the perturbation formulas of g factors for a 4f¹¹ ion in tetragonal symmetry. In these formulas, the contributions to the g factors arising from the second-order perturbation terms and the admixture of different states are included. The related crystal field parameters are calculated from the superposition model and the local structural parameters of the impurity Er³⁺ occupying the host La³⁺ site, and the superposition model parameters used in this work are comparable with those for similar tetragonal Er³⁺ centers in some zircon compounds in the previous work. The theoretical studies on g factors of Er³⁺ ion in this work would be of some use to experimentalists doing EPR on La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ (or other superconductors) with Er dopants.