Room temperature persistent spectral hole burning in x-ray irradiated Eu[sup 3+]-doped borate glasses.

Irradiation of x-rays has induced room-temperature persistent spectral hole burning (PSHB) in Eu[sup 3+]-doped borate glasses melted under an inert atmosphere. Defects were formed by x-ray irradiation and these defects, especially electron trapping centers near rare-earth ions in glasses, were responsible for the PSHB. Electrons were released from these defects upon irradiation of a burning light. Photoreduction of Eu[sup 3+] to Eu[sup 2+] by trapping these electrons resulted in the formation of persistent spectral holes. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]