Polarized emission of doped ZnS crystals

Polarization of light emitted in various spectral ranges was studied in two single crystals ZnS:Cu, Cl and ZnS:Ag, Cu, Al. The G-Cu, B-Cu and a small amount of S-A centers have been identified in the ZnS:Cu, Cl crystal by the spectral and polarization methods. The B-Ag band was found in the spectrum of the ZnS:Ag, Cu, Al crystal and its polarization properties investigated. This emission appears to be always polarized perpendicular to the [111]_c axis of the stacking faults independently of the polarization of the exciting light. The symmetry of the B-Ag center is not lower than that of the host lattice. Analogy with G-Cu centers suggests a model for the B-Ag center in which the polarization comes from the symmetry properties of the Ag²⁺ orbitals in the trigonal field of stacking faults.