Microscopic nature of the Er(super 3+) emission in mixed amorphous-nanocrystalline Si:H films

ErO(sub 6) complexes, where every Er(super 3+) ion is surrounded by six oxygen atoms forming an octahedron with C(sub 3v) point symmetry, are found to best describe the strong Stark splitting of the characteristic Er(super 3+) emission in the 1460-1610 nm range. An a-Si: H matrix serves an ideal semiconductor host to permit codoped O atoms to form an optimal octahedral ligand field around Er(super 3) ions.