Interaction of $Pr3+$ optical centers in the $Y2SiO5$ crystal

It is shown on the basis of studies of the optical spectra and luminescence decay of nonequivalent $Pr3+$ optical centers in the $Y2SiO5$ crystal that the occupation of the nonequivalent cation sites of the crystal lattice by the activator ions is irregular. For excitation in the region of the optical transitions $H43→1D2in$ the temperature interval 6–80 K there is no transfer of electronic excitation energy between $Pr3+$ ions localized in different cation sites. The luminescence decay law of the $Pr3+$ optical centers is determined by the concentration of activator ions and has a complicated non-single-exponential character; the quenching of the luminescence of the $Pr3+$ ions is due to the formation of dimers of these ions. © 2002 American Institute of Physics.