The three reorientation processes of O-2 centres in unstressed alkali halide crystals

Measurements of the reorientation of O^-₂ centres in RbI and RbBr at low temperatures together with earlier measurements in different alkali halides suggest the following sequence of relaxation mechanisms in an unstressed srystal: Below about 3°K a one phonon tunneling process, then an activated tunneling process through the first librational state, and above 10°K a classical jumping process over the potential well.