THE STATES OF ERBIUM IN SILICA GLASSES IMPLANTED WITH Er+ IONS

Abstract

The samples of silica glass were implanted with Er + ions at 100 keV energy and different fluences. The implanted samples were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical spectroscopy. Scanning transmission electron microscopy was used for the study of colloidal particles produced in implanted layers. For the samples implanted with Er+ at low fluencies and 4.2 K a broad EPR line with effective g-factor equal to 7.56 and line width of 150 mT was observed. It was attributed to Er(3+) ions in axially distorted octahedral environment. No EPR spectrum of Er(3+) was found at higher fluences. In optical spectra the absorption bands at 213, 248, 380 and 520 nm were observed at low fluences. The last two bands were attributed to Er(3+) ions. Microphotographs of silica plates implanted with Er+ to high fluences show that almost spherical particles are formed in the substrate after Er implantation. The size of particles and their number increases with increasing fluencies.