We have investigated the photoluminescence and ultrafast dynamics of LaAlO3 crystal. The photoluminescence consists of a broad spectrum and two sharp peaks, which arise from various defect levels within the bandgap. A doublet splitting of roughly 6 nm is seen in these two sharp peaks. An Al displacement of 0.09 Å in a sublattice, which is possible because of twinning, is adequate to explain the spectral splitting. Femtosecond pump probe experiments reveal further that many of these defect levels have a few picosecond decay times while the lowest defect states have decay times longer than nanosecond to the valence band.
A detailed defect energy level map was investigated for heterostructures of 26 unit cells of LaAlO3 on SrTiO3 prepared at a low oxygen partial pressure of 10 -6 mbar. The origin is attributed to the presence of dominating oxygen defects in SrTiO3 substrate. Using femtosecond laser spectroscopy, the transient absorption and relaxation times for various transitions were determined. An ultrafast relaxation process of 2-3 picosecond from the conduction band to the closest defect level and a slower process of 70-92 picosecond from conduction band to intra-band defect level were observed. The results are discussed on the basis of propose defect-band diagram.
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