Fluorescence and magneto-optics of Er3+ in Ca3Ga2Ge3O12 garnet

Abstract We report fluorescence, magneto-optics and light absorption studies of Er 3+ in Ca 3 Ga 2 Ge 3 O 12 both at room and liquid-helium temperatures. We found that several sites are occupied by the Er 3+ ions, which substitute Ca 2+ , corresponding with different charge compensation in the Er 3+ neighbourhood. Here we present the complete optical study of the most populated of these sites. We compare our results with previous ESR experiments in similar samples and other rare-earth optical experiments in the same host.