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Physical review. B, Solid state

Optical Properties of Ho3+ Ions in Yttrium Gallium Garnet and Yttrium Iron Garnet

L. F. Johnson, J. F. Dillon, J. P. Remeika

Published Mar 1, 1970• 31 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Optical absorption and emission spectra are used to determine the energy levels of the $^{5}I_{8}$ ground state and $^{5}I_{7}$ excited state of ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$ in diamagnetic yttrium gallium garnet (YGaG) and ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet (YIG). The results for YGaG are consistent with the ${D}_{2}$ site symmetry of the dodecahedral site in the garnet structure. Energy levels in YIG which are separated by site inequivalency are identified from spectra observed as the ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}$ magnetization is rotated in the ($1\overline{1}0$) plane. Stimulated emission is observed from ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$ in YGaG at 2.086 and 2.114 \ensuremath{\mu} and from ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$ in YIG at 2.086, 2.089, and 2.107 \ensuremath{\mu}. Each of the lines in YIG is composed of two superimposed electronic transitions. The exchange field in YIG makes possible magnetic tuning of coherent emission over a range of 70 \AA{}.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.1.1935

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Optical absorption and emission spectra are used to determine the energy levels of the 5I8 ground state and 5I7 excited state of Ho3+ in diamagnetic yttrium gallium garnet (YGaG) and ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet (YIG). The results for YGaG are consistent with the D2 site symmetry of the dodecahedral site in the garnet structure. Energy levels in YIG that are separated by site inequivalency are identified from spectra observed as the Fe3+ magnetization is rotated in the (11̄0) plane. Stimulated emission is observed from Ho3+ in YGaG at 2.086 and 2.114 μ and from Ho3+ in YIG at 2.086, 2.089, and 2.107 μ. Each of the lines in YIG is composed of two superimposed electronic transitions. The exchange field in YIG makes possible magnetic tuning of coherent emission over a range of 70 Å. This paper is a brief description of work that will be treated in full elsewhere.

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cond-mat.mtrl-sciCross-listedarXiv:2511.06324•Nov 11, 2025
Optical absorption and emission spectra are used to determine the energy levels of the 5I8^{5}I_{8}5I8​ ground state and 5I7^{5}I_{7}5I7​ excited state of Ho3+{\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}Ho3+ in diamagnetic yttrium gallium garnet (YGaG) and ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet (YIG). The results for YGaG are consistent with the D2{D}_{2}D2​ site symmetry of the dodecahedral site in the garnet structure. Energy levels in YIG which are separated by site inequivalency are identified from spectra observed as the Fe3+{\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}Fe3+ magnetization is rotated in the (11‾01\overline{1}0110) plane. Stimulated emission is observed from Ho3+{\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}Ho3+ in YGaG at 2.086 and 2.114 \ensuremath{\mu} and from Ho3+{\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}Ho3+ in YIG at 2.086, 2.089, and 2.107 \ensuremath{\mu}. Each of the lines in YIG is composed of two superimposed electronic transitions. The exchange field in YIG makes possible magnetic tuning of coherent emission over a range of 70 \AA{}.
Optical absorption and emission spectra are used to determine the energy levels of the 5I8 ground state and 5I7 excited state of Ho3+ in diamagnetic yttrium gallium garnet (YGaG) and ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet (YIG). The results for YGaG are consistent with the D2 site symmetry of the dodecahedral site in the garnet structure. Energy levels in YIG that are separated by site inequivalency are identified from spectra observed as the Fe3+ magnetization is rotated in the (11̄0) plane. Stimulated emission is observed from Ho3+ in YGaG at 2.086 and 2.114 μ and from Ho3+ in YIG at 2.086, 2.089, and 2.107 μ. Each of the lines in YIG is composed of two superimposed electronic transitions. The exchange field in YIG makes possible magnetic tuning of coherent emission over a range of 70 Å. This paper is a brief description of work that will be treated in full elsewhere.
Coherent emission from Ho3+ ions (2.1 μm) in a YIG host at 77 °K has been observed by optical pumping into the electronic absorption bands of the YIG host material, using (i) a pulsed Nd : glass laser to pump into the tail of the 6A1g→4T1g band (which has an absorption coefficient α=0.18 cm−1 at 1.06 μm) or (ii) a pulsed ruby laser (0.6943 μm) to pump the 6A1g→4T2g band near its peak (where α=300 cm−1). The Ho3+ emission from an illuminated slab 30–40 μm was investigated as a function of input pump energy. The electronic absorption bands of YIG are strong, broad, and have good energy-transfer efficiency to the upper laser level of the Ho3+ ions.
Stimulated emission due to the 4 I 11/2 – 4 I 13/2 transition (λ = 2.936 μ) in yttrium aluminum garnet (Y 3 Al 5 O 12 ) doped with Er 3+ ions (30 wt%) was observed for the first time at 300°K. The output energy from crystals of 50 × 3 mm dimensions was 0.3 J under free-oscillation conditions and 0.05 J in the case of Q switching. The lifetime of the 4 I 11/2 level was determined for crystals with 3–30 wt% Er 3+ . The energy from the higher Er 3+ levels relaxed in a cascade manner through 4 I 11/2 to 4 I 13/2 .
Er-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Er:YIG) holds the potential of combining the low magnetic damping of YIG with the telecom-band optical transitions of Er3+\text{Er}^{3+}Er3+ ions, making it a suitable material for hybrid optomagnonic devices and microwave-to-optical quantum transduction. We report the epitaxial growth of ErxY3−xFe5O12\text{Er}_{x}\text{Y}_{3-x}\text{Fe}_{5}\text{O}_{12}Erx​Y3−x​Fe5​O12​ films with x=0.008−0.20x=0.008-0.20x=0.008−0.20 on (111)-oriented gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrates using pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction, reciprocal space mapping, and scanning transmission electron microscopy confirm single-phase, fully coherent growth with atomically sharp interfaces across the entire substitution range. Magnetometry reveals a gradual decrease in saturation magnetization with increasing Er content, consistent with antiparallel coupling between Er3+^{3+}3+ spins and the net Fe3+^{3+}3+ moments, along with the emergence of an in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. The ferromagnetic resonance broadens with Er concentration due to increased Gilbert damping and inhomogeneous linewidth broadening. Films with low Er content (x=0.008x=0.008x=0.008), most relevant for optomagnonic applications, retain nearly isotropic magnetization and exhibit a damping parameter only slightly higher than that of undoped YIG. These results identify growth and substitution conditions that preserve YIG's low-loss magnetic properties while introducing optical functionality, establishing Er:YIG as a viable platform for hybrid quantum magnonics and microwave-to-optical transduction.