OPTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF Nd3+ DOPED CaF2 LAYERS GROWN BY MOLECULAR BEAM EPITAXY

Nd3+ doped CaF2 monocrystalline films have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy using CaF2 and NdF3 evaporation on CaF2 substrates. The effect of Nd3+ concentration is studied by means of the photoluminescence signal of Nd3+ ions. The results can be compared favourably with those obtained on CaF2:Nd bulk crystals. For a given Nd3+ concentration a lower quantity of Nd3+ aggregate centers is observed. Nd3+ ions can therefore be efficiently incorporated as isolated Nd3+-F- centers up to a concentration of 6 wt % Nd3+ without emission quenching of their associated line at 1045.7 nm