Quantitative Identification of Phonon Modes Controlling the Multiphonon Relaxation in Heavy-Metal Oxide Glasses

The phonon mode(s) controlling the multiphonon relaxation (MPR) in PbO–Bi₂O₃–Ga₂O₃ glass was analyzed, and the effect of GeO₂ addition on the MPR process was investigated. MPR rates were obtained from the lifetimes of the Tm³⁺:³ H ₄ level in glasses over the temperature range 20–280 K. In PbO–Bi₂O₃–Ga₂O₃ glass, phonons from the bending vibration between GaO₄ tetrahedra (∼550 cm⁻¹) controlled the MPR process. On the addition of GeO₂, the phonon mode at ∼770 cm⁻¹ due to the stretching vibration of GeO₄ tetrahedra started to affect the MPR process. Phonon modes controlling the MPR process in PbO–Bi₂O₃–Ga₂O₃–GeO₂ glass were both 550 cm⁻¹ and 770 cm⁻¹.