Eur. Phys. J. B (2012) 85: 292
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-30433-3

Regular Article

Growth and spectroscopic characterization of Pb²⁺:CaF₂ crystals

¹ Faculty of Physics, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timisoara, Romania
² Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania

^a e-mail: stef@physics.uvt.ro

Received: 30 May 2012
Received in final form: 30 June 2012
Published online: 29 August 2012

Abstract

CaF₂ crystals doped with various concentrations of PbF₂ (0.4, 0.5, 1 and 2 mol%) were grown in vacuum, in a shaped graphite furnace using the vertical Bridgman method. The optical absorption spectra reveal the four characteristic UV absorption bands (labeled A, B, C and D) of the Pb²⁺ ions. As the PbF₂ concentration increases, the structure of the bands become clearly visible, that is characteristic for the ns² ions in various hosts. High intensity emission bands in the near UV spectral region have been observed. The dependence on the Pb²⁺ concentration of the optical absorption and emission of the Pb²⁺:CaF₂ crystals were not reported before.