Linards SKUJA

Dr. habil. phys. Linards SKUJA Leading Researcher Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia Kengaraga iela 8 Riga, LV 1063 Latvia Phone: +371 6726 0756 Fax: +371 6713 2778 E-mail: skuja@latnet.lv

Born: 1952, Riga, Latvia

• Point defects in crystalline and amorphous solids
• Nature of non-crystalline solids
• Applications of glassy materials, particularly silicon dioxide-based glasses in optoelectronics
• Optical and magnetic spectroscopy
• Applications of computers in physical experiment

The general research interests concern glassy/amorphous materials for optics and electronics. The main focus is on oxide materials based on SiO₂ and GeO₂. The motivation for studying these materials is provided by the outstanding physical properties of glassy SiO₂ and the key role it plays in a number of modern applications: low-loss optical fibers for communications, ultraviolet and high-power laser optics, insulating oxide layers in silicon-based microelectronics, radiation resistant optical glasses etc. Our work mainly concerns point defects in these materials, their structure, generation mechanisms and optical properties, their impact on practical applications and devices.

Languages: Latvian, English, German, Russian

• University of Latvia (Faculty of Physics and Mathematics), 1974
• Postgraduate, University of Latvia, 1977-1980
• Dr.phys. (Candidate of Science in former USSR, PhD in Western countries), Institute of Physics, Latvia, 1980
• Dr.habil.phys., Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, 1994

• Engineer, Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Semiconductor Physics, University of Latvia, 1972-1977.
• Junior Researcher, Senior Researcher, Leading Researcher, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, 1980 –

• Visiting scientist in Torino University, Italy (1989)
• Alexander-von-Humboldt Fellow, University of Muenster, Germany, 1991-1992, 1995.
• Visiting scientist, Nagoya University, Japan 1994
• Research scientist, German Federal Institute of Natural and Engineering Sciences
  (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, PTB), Braunschweig, Germany 1995-1998.
• Visiting professor Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan 1999
• Visiting scientist, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2000-2003 (3 months/year)

• Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1996
• Full Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2003
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences Edgar Silins Prize in Physics, 2003.

• Member, Latvian Physical Society.

1. L.N. Skuja, A.R.Silin, A.G.Boganov. On the nature of the 1.9 eV luminescence centers in amorphous SiO₂ . J.  Non-Crystalline Solids,  v.63, No3, pp.431-436, (1984).
2. L. N. Skuja, A. N. Streletsky, A.B. Pakovich. A new intrinsic defect in amorphous SiO₂ : Twofold coordinated silicon. - Solid State Comm., v.50, No12, pp.1069-1072 (1984).
3. L. N. Skuja, A.N. Trukhin, A.E. Plaudis. Luminescence in germanium- doped glassy SiO₂. - Physica Status Solidi (a), v.84, No2, p.K153-K157 (1984).
4. L. N. Skuja. Photoluminescence of intrinsic defects in glassy GeO₂ : Twofold coordinated Ge and non-bridging oxygen.-  Physica Status Solidi (a),   v.114, pp.731-737 (1989).
5. L. Skuja. Isoelectronic series of twofold coordinated Si, Ge, and Sn atoms in glassy SiO₂: a luminescence study. - J.Non-Crystalline Solids, v.149, pp.77-95 (1992).
6. L. Skuja. Direct singlet-to-triplet optical absorption and luminescence excitation band of the twofold-coordinated silicon center in oxygen-deficient glassy SiO₂.- J. Non-Crystalline Solids, v.167, pp.229-238 (1994).
7. L. Skuja .The origin of the intrinsic 1.9 eV luminescence band in glassy SiO₂ . - J. Non-Crystalline Solids,  v.179, pp.51-69 (1994).
8. L. Skuja, T. Suzuki, K. Tanimura.  Site-selective laser spectroscopy studies of the intrinsic 1.9 eV luminescence center in glassy SiO₂. - Phys.Rev. B.,   v.52, pp.15208-15216 (1995).
9. L. Skuja, K.Tanimura, N. Itoh. Correlation between the radiation-induced intrinsic 4.8 eV optical absorption and 1.9 eV photoluminescence bands in glassy SiO₂ . - J. Applied Physics, v.80, No 6, pp.3518-25 (1996).
10. L. Skuja, B. Güttler. Detection of interstitial oxygen molecules in SiO₂ glass by a direct photoexcitation of the infrared luminescence of singlet O₂. - Phys.Rev.Letters, v.77, pp.2093-2096 (1996).
11. L. Skuja, A. Naber. Laser-induced luminescence in glassy SiO₂ and neutron-irradiated alpha quartz: three types of non-bridging oxygen hole centers. - Materials Science Forum, vol. 239-241, pp.25-28 (1997).
12. L. Skuja, B. Güttler, D. Schiel, A. R. Silin. Quantitative analysis of the concentration of interstitial O₂ molecules in SiO₂ glass using luminescence and Raman spectrometry. - J. Applied Physics, v.83, No 11, pp.6106-10 (1998).
13. L. Skuja. The nature of optically active oxygen-deficiency-related centers in amorphous silicon dioxide.-  J. Non-Crystalline Solids, v.239, No 1-3, pp. 16-48 (1998).
14. L. Skuja, B. Güttler, D. Schiel, A. R.Silin. Infrared photoluminescence of pre-existing or radiation-induced interstitial oxygen molecules in glassy SiO₂ and a -quartz. - Phys.Rev. B, vol.58, No21, pp.14296-14304 (1998).
15. M. Mizuguchi, L. Skuja, and H. Hosono. Photochemical processes induced by 157-nm light in H₂-impregnated glassy SiO₂:OH. - Optics Letters, vol. 24, No 13, pp. 863-865 (1999).
16. M. Mizuguchi, L. Skuja, H. Hosono, T. Ogawa.  F-doped and H₂ -impregnated synthetic SiO₂ glasses for 157 nm optics. - J.Vac .Sci. Technol. B, v.17, No 6, pp. 3280-3284 (1999).
17. L. Skuja, M. Hirano, H. Hosono. Oxygen-Related Intrinsic Defects in Glassy SiO₂: Interstitial Ozone Molecules. - Phys. Rev.Lett., v.84, No2, pp.302-305 (2000).
18. L. Skuja, H. Hosono, M. Mizuguchi, B. Güttler, A. R. Silin. Site-selective study of the 1.8 eV luminescence band in glassy GeO₂. - J. Luminescence, v. 87-89, pp.699-701 (2000).
19. L. Skuja. Optical properties of defects in silica.-  In: Defects in SiO₂ and Related Dielectrics: Science and Technology, ed. by G. Pacchioni, L. Skuja and D. L. Griscom, NATO Science Series II, Vol.2, p.73-116, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht-Boston-London (2000).
20. L. Skuja, H. Hosono, M. Hirano. Laser-induced color centers in silica Proc. - SPIE, vol. 4347, pp.155-168, (2001).
21. L. Skuja, K. Kajihara, T. Kinoshita, M. Hirano. The behavior of interstitial oxygen atoms induced by F₂ laser irradiation of oxygen-rich glassy SiO₂. - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, vol. B191,  pp.127 –130 (2002).
22. K. Kajihara, L. Skuja, M. Hirano, H. Hosono. Diffusion and reactions of hydrogen in F₂ -laser-irradiated SiO₂ glass. - Phys.Rev. Lett., v.89, No13, pp. 135507-1 - 135507-4 (2002).
23. L. Skuja, H. Hosono, M. Hirano, K. Kajihara. Advances in silica-based glasses for UV and vacuum-UV laser optics. - Proc. SPIE, vol. 5122, p.2-15 (2003).
24. T.Suzuki, L.Skuja, K.Kajihara, M.Hirano, T.Kamiya, H.Honso. Electronic structure of oxygen dangling in glassy SiO₂ : The role of hyperconjugation. – Phys. Rev. Lett., 2003, vol.90, No 18, pp.186404-1 – 186404-4.
25. K. Kajihara, L.Skuja, M.Hirano, H.Hosono Role of Mobile Interstitial atoms in defect processes in oxides: Interconversion between oxygen-associated defects in SiO₂ glass. - Phys. Rev. Letters, 2004, vol. 92, No1, pp.015504-(1-4).
26. K.Kajihara, Y.Ikuta, M.Oto, M.Hirano, L.Skuja, H. Hosono. UV-VUV laser induced phenomena in SiO₂ glass. - Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res, 2004, vol.B218, pp. 323 –331.

• L.Skuja (Head of Project) Study of Point Defects and their Generation in SiO₂ and GeO₂ Based Glasses and Crystals. Latvian Council of Science, (1993 - 1996 )
• L.Skuja (Head of Project) Spectroscopic Studies of Point Defects in Oxide Materials with Different Degree of Structural Disorder. Latvian Council of Science, (1996 – 2000)
• L.Skuja (Head of Project) Investigation of Point Defects in Wide-Gap Glassforming Materials for Microelectronics, Optical Waveguides and Laser Optics. Latvian Council of Science, (2001 - 2004)
• L.Skuja (Head of Project) Study of Optical Properties, their Optimization and Variation Mechanisms in Glassy Materials for Ultraviolet Optics and Fiber Wave-guides. Latvian Council of Science, (2005 - )
• L.Skuja (Leader of the work packet:"Defects in oxide glasses and related materials") within the EC sponsored program "Excellence Center for Advanced Material Research and Technology" (CAMART) in Institute of Solid State Physics
• L. Skuja (local coordinator) of European research-training network "Optical Devices Using Photosensitivity for their Elaboration (2000-2004).

Last update 23.08.2005