Irregular Ce3+and defect-related luminescence in YAlO3 single crystal

Using the methods of time-resolved and steady-state luminescence spectroscopies, the luminescence and defects creation processes were studied at 4.2–300 K under excitation in the 3.0–10.5 eV energy range for an YAlO3:Ce crystal with very low concentration of Ce3+ ions. The results were compared with those obtained at the study of YAlO3:Ce crystals with large Ce3+ content coming from the same technological laboratory. Three irregular Ce3+ centers were found and two intrinsic defect luminescence centers related to the cation and oxygen vacancies were evidenced. The origin and structure of luminescence centers are discussed.