Decay time of polaron photoluminescence in congruent lithium niobate

The intensity, the peak wavelength and the decay time of polaron photoluminescence in congruent lithium niobate are measured versus temperature from 77 K to 290 K. The radiative relaxation shows quasi athermal behaviour (τR ≈ 9 µs) whereas the nonradiative relaxation follows arrhenius law with activation energy of 220 meV. The crossing point between radiative and nonradiative lifetimes is about 210 K. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)