High Precision Energy Measurements from the Analysis of Wide Spectral Features. Application to the fluorescence of YAG:Ce3+

Abstract

Advantage is taken of a complete and precise experimental study of the luminescent properties of yttrium aluminium garnet doped with Ce, previously accomplished by other authors, to confirm the accuracy of the invoked theoretical methods for dealing with the realistic calculation of the electromagnetic spectra of condensed phases. The fluorescent spectra at T=0 and T=250 K of YAG:Ce(3+) were calculated with no adjustable parameter, giving complete agreement with experiment. The energy released by the electronic transitions was determined with precision better than 5\% the full width at half maximum of the spectral features. Thermal quenching of the fluorescent yield is discussed and calculated in a less accurate way, but anyway showing good agreement with experiment.