What may be expected from the “microwave resonant cavity technique” applied to rare‐earth‐doped insulating materials?

The principle of measurements using the “microwave resonant cavity technique” applied to rare-earth-doped insulating materials is reviewed and the physical nature of the expected signals is discussed. Experimental results concerning both single crystal and powdered samples of Lu2SiO5: Ce3+ are presented and discussed as typical examples. From measurements at various temperatures between 300 and 5 K and under different pulsed laser beam powers, it is shown that detailed information on the rare earth photoionization process, photoconductivity dynamics and trapping effects may be gained, in addition to photoconductivity spectra. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)