The luminescence properties of MgUO4

The luminescence of MgUO₄ has been investigated. Emission and excitation spectra as well as the decay time and the quantum efficiency of the emission were measured at 4.2 K. The temperature dependence of the emission spectrum and the emission intensity was studied. The results show that in MgUO₄ the emission originates from uranate centres near defects. These centres act as optical traps. Even at 4.2 K about 90% of the excitation energy is lost non-radiatively by trapping at killer sites. These are most probably due to the presence of U⁵⁺ ions.     

Time-resolved luminescence of UO2MoO4

Time-resolved spectroscopy and decay-time measurements for the intrinsic and trap emission lines of UO₂MoO₄ supply experimental evidence for fast energy migration among intrinsic centres and from intrinsic to trap centres. The temperature behaviour of the decay time for the main trap lines reveals an energy transfer rate from trap to intrinsic centres in the order of 5×10⁹s^-1, while the transfer rate among intrinsic centres, as estimated from the correlation field splitting, is 3×10¹¹ s^-1.     

Generation of O-2 molecular ions in electron-irradiated KBr and KI crystals

It is shown that during electron irradiation of KBr and KI crystals at 80 K a vibronic structure develops in the emission spectrum characteristic of O^-₂ molecular ions. The origin of these ions is explained in terms of the processes following the radiolysis of OH^- impurity ions. Total disappearance (thermal quenching) of the vibronic structure T#62;170 K for KBr and T#62;110 K for KI is attributed to the reaction between mobile X^-₂ (V_k) centres and O^-₂ molecular ions resulting in the formation of optically inactive O₂ molecules.     

Photoluminescence of O2 and S2 ions in synthetic sodalities

Photoluminescence spectra of oxygen-doped chloro- and bromosodalites and sulfur-doped chloro-, bromo- and iodosodalites were measured at temperatures between 4.2 and 300 °K. At 4.2 and 77 °K, the emission spectra of oxygen-doped sodalites consisted of a series of peaks in the wavelength range 400–700 nm, with an average energy separation of ∼ 1000 cm^-1. In addition, fine structure, attributed to lattice modes, was observed in each vibrational band. At 4.2 and 77 °K, the sulfur-doped samples showed a multiband spectrum in the 500–750 nm range, with an average separation of ∼ 570 cm^-1 between bands. The spectrum at 4.2 °K exhibited some asymmetry not observed at 77 °K, but no fine structure was resolved. At 300 °K weak, broad-band luminescence was observed from both oxygen- and sulfur-doped samples, with no vibrational structure evident. The results compared very favorably with those reported for oxygen- and sulfur-doped alkali halides, and by analogy the spectra were attributed to luminescence from O^-₂ and S^-₂ molecular ions.     

Phonon-assisted stimulated emission in 2H type PbI2

The stimulated emission in 2H type PbI₂ crystals has been observed under N₂ laser beam excitation at 4.2 K. The analysis of its gain spectrum shows that the emission is induced by the recombination of free exciton assisted by the emission of one longitudinal optical phonon. At a higher level of excitation, the gain spectrum peak shifts to lower energy side. Possible mechanisms of this spectral change are discussed.     

Magnetic order in hedenbergite: CaFeSi2O6

Synthetic hedenbergite orders antiferromagnetically at 38 K although the principal interactions are ferromagnetic, between Fe²⁺ ions in the Ml chains of edge-sharing octahedra. The susceptibility follows a Curie-Weiss law above 100 K with θ = 35 K and p_eff = 4.98 μ_B. A fit of the 4.2 K Mossbauer spectrum yields a positive, near-axial electric field gradient and a hyperfine field of 18.8 T. The likely magnetic structure consists of ferromagnetic chains, each weakly coupled antiparallel to its four c-centred equivalents.     

Cr-related centers in Gd3Ga5O12 polycrystals

The luminescence excitation spectra, emission spectra under photo- and X-ray excitation, luminescence decay kinetics and thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) of Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ garnet (GGG) polycrystalline samples have been investigated. It was established that the spectrum of Cr³⁺ ion emission were present in all TSL peaks. The activation energies of traps that are responsible for appearance of TSL in the region 295-600 K were estimated. It is shown that delocalization of electrons from the Cr³⁺e traps leads to the appearance of thermoluminescence (TL) glow peak at 390 K. The nature of other TSL peaks is discussed. The influence of visible light on the TSL intensity of the preliminary X-ray-irradiated samples is shown.     

Emission spectra in orthorhombic PbCl2 at low temperature

The emission spectra and its time decay in PbCl₂ at low temperature are reported. Three emission bands lying at 3.81 (uv), 2.93 (blue) and 2.60 eV are found for the photo-excitation in the intrinsic absorption region, at 4.2 K. An exponential decay with decay time of 11.4 μs is observed for the uv emission. For the blue emission two kinds of time decay spectra are observed: a second order process below 10 K and an exponential decay above 14 K. The mechanisms of these emission are discussed by taking into account the above results.     

A 57Fe and 119Sn Mössbauer study of BaFe4Sn2O11

The Mössbauer spectrum of BaFe₄Sn₂O₁₁ has been recorded for both ⁵⁷Fe and ¹¹⁹Sn isotopes at a variety of temperatures. In the paramagnetic state the ⁵⁷Fe spectra are interpreted in terms of three iron environments. Magnetic ordering begins at 77 K and is virtually complete by 4.2 K to give an average magnetic hyperfine field of 504 kG. The ¹¹⁹Sn spectra also reflect the magnetic ordering and a magnetic hyperfine field of 45 kG is transferred to the tin nuclei.     

Magnetic field effects on the fluorescence of Cr3+ in GdAlO3

The fluorescence spectrum of Cr³⁺ in GdAlO₃ has been examined at 4.2 K as a function of magnetic field up to 60 kG. The resulting splitting of the ²E → ⁴A₂ emission lines are explained in terms of a modified molecular field approximation, which incorporates the effect of the spin fluctuations. The exchange constant in the relaxed excited state is found to be 1.2 cm^-1, which differs from that reported from absorption data. It is suggested that the difference may be related to the Frank-Condon effect.     

Luminescence study of the optically active uranyl crystals: NaUO2(CH3COO)3

Luminescence spectra of NaUO₂(CH₃COO)₃ single crystals at 4.2 K have been investigated by means of site selective excitation technique, circularly polarized luminescence and time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. It has been found that the splittings in the pure electronic and their vibronic transition lines are ascribed to the transitions from two different emitting sites.     

Photo- and thermostimulated processes in α-Al2O3

We reported on the recombination processes determined by the release of electrons from defects connected with the dosimetric 430 K thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) peak as well as with the 260 K TSL peak. These TSL peaks appear in thermochemically reduced α-Al₂O₃ crystals containing hydrogen and emission of these TSL peaks corresponds to luminescence of the F-center. The X-ray exposure or UV excitation in the absorption band of F-centers at 6.0 eV of reduced α-Al₂O₃ crystals doped with acceptor impurities results in the appearance of a broad anisotropic complex absorption band in the spectral region 2.5–3.5 eV and in the appearance of a predominant TSL peak at 430 K. Above 430 K the above-mentioned broad absorption band disappears. Optical bleaching of the 2.5–3.5 eV band is accompanied by the disappearance of the 430 K TSL peak and results in F-center emission. The X-ray or UV excitation of reduced α-Al₂O₃ crystals with donor-type impurities results in the appearance of an anisotropic absorption band at 4.2 eV and the appearance of a dominant TSL peak at 260 K. Above 260 K the 4.2 eV absorption disappears and photostimulated luminescence (PSL) of the F-center recombination luminescence in the 4.2 eV region is no longer observed. Optical bleaching of the 4.2 eV absorption band is accompanied by the disappearance of the 260 K TSL peak. The successful use of reduced α-Al₂O₃ in dosimetry needs the optimization of the concentration of all components (acceptors, hydrogen, intrinsic defects) involved in the thermo- and photostimulated processes.     

Electrical resistivity and magnetic investigations of the orthorhombic Tb(Ni,Cu)2 system

The orthorhombic Tb(Ni, Cu)₂ and Gd(Ni, Cu)₂ systems (CeCu₂ structure) are closely similar according to electrical resistivity and magnetic results. The Tb(Ni_xCu_1?x)₂ system presents a transition from antiferromagnetism (AF) for x ? 8% Ni to ferromagnetism (FM) for x > 8% Ni. The CeCu₂ structure becomes unstable for x > 45% Ni. The AF samples show metamagnetism at 4.2 K with critical fields. Hysteresis, which occurs for all samples at 4.2 K, is attributed to intrinsic pinning due to large anisotropy where the mechanism for the AF range is analogous to intrinsic pinning of narrow domain walls in FM samples.Spin disorder resistivity measurements show a discontinuity at the AF-FM transition composition for both the Tb and Gd systems. This is due to a step up of the residual resistivity at 4.2 K as a result of AF ordering. This interpretation is confirmed by applying a magnetic field to destroy the AF ordering.     

Luminescence and energy transfer in TbAl3B4O12

An investigation of the luminescence properties of TbAl₃B₄O₁₂ in the temperature region 1.4–300 K is reported. Laser site-selection and time-resolution techniques were used.The results show that energy migration among Tb³⁺ ions on the regular crystallographic sites occurs. The transfer characteristics at room temperature are consistent with a diffusion-limited transfer process to Mo³⁺ quenching centres. The diffusion constant and the critical transfer distance for Tb³⁺ → Mo³⁺ transfer are derived. The rate of diffusion increases for decreasing temperature. At about 60 K a transition from diffusion-limited transfer to trapping-limited transfer occurs. This behaviour is due to the variation in the diffusion constant with temperature. In the temperature region below 60 K transfer to Tb³⁺ traps is observed. The intensity of the emission from the traps increases exponentially with decreasing temperature. However, the overall transfer rate to Mo³⁺ and traps remains roughly constant. A simple model including time-independent transfer rates and back transfer from traps to intrinsic Tb³⁺ ions is proposed to explain the results. The rates of transfer to Mo³⁺ and traps are obtained.     

EPR in LiTbF4 using an HCN laser

The Tb³⁺ electron paramagnetic resonances of a spherically shaped LiTbF₄ single crystal were measured with the static magnetic field along the c-axis, using an HCN laser at 890.8 and 964.3 GHz. At 4.2 K the measured spectrum consists of four hyperfine lines which have a spacing of 25.0± 0.2 mT and a width of roughly 10 mT. The g-factor is 17.75 ± 0.1 at both frequencies. In each hyperfine line of the spectrum at 4.2 K a superimposed structure is seen. This structure is explained by changes in the dispersion of the LiTbF₄ crystal.     

Observation of a pure electric quadrupole mechanism for a solid-state electronic transition

Polarized high resolution absorption spectra at 4·2 K are reported for single crystals of Cs₂UO₂Cl₄. An analysis of the polarization of the electronic origin bands and the vibronic structure provides evidence for a transition which is allowed by a pure electric-quadrupole mechanism.     

Laser characteristics of KCL:O-2

Amplified spontaneous emission and laser action have been observed at 77 K in KCL crystals containing the superoxide ion (O^-₂). The laser operates in two bands of width ～50 Å centered at 6350 Å and 5984 Å. These bands are the (lattice) phonon sidebands of vibronic transitions of the superoxide ion. At lower temperatures (～6 K) amplified spontaneous emission is observed in the zero phonon line at 6294 Å.     

Magnetic behaviour of NpAs2 from Mössbauer spectroscopy

The Mössbauer hyperfine spectra of the 60 keV resonance of ²³⁷Np in powder and single crystal absorbers of NpAs₂ were measured between 4.2 and 60 K. Below 18 K a simple magnetic plus quadrupole pattern is seen in accordance with a ferromagnetic spin structure in tetragonal NpAs₂. The isomer shift favors the 4+ charge state, the hyperfine field of 288 T implies a moment of 1.5μ_B at the Np ion. The large reduction compared to the free ion values points towards a strong mixing of the electronic ground state by crystalline field interactions. Above 18 K the spectrum changes into a complex hyperfine pattern indicating a sinusoidally modulated spin structure. Near 54 K a transition into the paramagnetic state is observed. Both magnetic transitions (18 and 54 K) exhibit a feature typical for a first-order character.     

Single-crystal absorption and emission spectra of CsVCl3 and CsMgCl3:V2+

Single-crystal absorption and emission spectra of CsVCl₃ and CsMgCl₃:V²⁺ in the region of the first excited state were measured at temperatures down to 6 K. The ⁴A_2g?⁴T_2g transition shows a large trigonal splitting of the ⁴T_2g state and surprisingly well-resolved fine structure which can be analyzed in terms of electronic origins and vibronic side bands.     

Photoluminescence of PbBr2, PbCl2 and β-PbF2 single crystals

Photoluminescence measurements on a PbBr₂ single crystal at 4.2 K revealed a violet and a yellow emission band, in addition to the UV, blue and red band which were already known. The violet and blue luminescence are ascribed to emission of an exciton bound by a defect. The UV emission is quenched at much lower temperature than reported previously, because of a more effective energy transfer from the exciton to defect centres. Luminescence results on PbCl₂ and β-PbF₂ are in fair agreement with those of other authors.