Effect of electric field on one-quantum photodecay of oxygen-deficient centers in germanosilicate fibers

The effect of a strong electric field ~up to 10 V/cm! on one-quantum UV photoexcitation and photodecomposition of germanium oxygen deficient centers ~GODC! in twin-hole germanosilicate fibers with internal wire electrodes is reported. The fiber has been irradiated with the UV light of a deuterium lamp and triplet photoluminescence of GODC has been used to monitor the kinetics of its photodecay. Applying such an electric field did not affect the spectral characteristics of GODC but increased the rate of their one-quantum photodecomposition, while direct photoionization and charge separation did not take place. We have also shown that this effect is caused by the suppression of secondary photoinduced recombination processes of intermediates, rather than by acceleration of primary photodecomposition of GODC. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. @S0003-6951~00!01437-6#