  The optical properties of Mn-Mg codoped epitaxial GaN were studied. Addition
of Mg acceptors quenches the weak manganese-related photoluminescence (PL) band
at 1.3 eV in GaN:Mn and a series of sharp PL peaks are observed at 1 eV in
codoped epilayers. The change in PL spectra indicates that Mg addition
stabilizes the Mn4+ charge state by decreasing the Fermi level. The 1 eV PL
peaks are tentatively attributed to intra center transitions involving Mn4+
ions. Spin allowed 3d-shell 4T2-4T1 transitions and their phonon replicas are
involved. The relative intensities of the sharp peaks are strongly dependent on
the excitation wavelength, indicating the optically active Mn4+ centers
involved in the separate peaks are different. The temperature dependence of the
PL spectrum suggests the presence of at least three distinct Mn4+ complex
centers.

Materials Science