Pressure-induced blueshift of Nd3+ fluorescence emission in YAlO3: Near infrared pressure sensor

Pressure-induced shift of fluorescence emission in garnets and other oxides is investigated for applications as optical pressure sensors. We report high pressure studies on the fluorescence emission from neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite (Nd3+:YAlO3) to 80 GPa at room temperature. Unusual nonlinear blueshift of wavelength with pressure was found for several fluores cence peaks in the wavelength region of 850-900 nm. These peaks are identified as the lines associated with transition Nd3+:4F(3/2)-->I-4(9/2) in YAlO3. The blueshift of these emissions is compared with the redshift of the same system in neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd3+:Y3Al5O12). The shift with pressure is related to the change in the Stark level splitting with pressure. In view of the strong red emission from diamond anvils at ultrahigh pressures, this near infrared emission of Nd3+:YAlO3 holds promise as an ultrahigh pressure sensor. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.