Specific features of the temperature quenching of luminescence of self-trapped excitons in alkali halide crystals under low-temperature deformation

The activation energy of temperature quenching of luminescence of self-trapped excitons in alkali halide crystals subjected to low-temperature uniaxial deformation is evaluated experimentally. It is found that an increase in the activation energy is observed in the following series of crystals: KBr → NaCl → KI → NaBr → CsBr → RbI. The effect of enhancement of intrinsic luminescence of alkali halide crystals due to the lowering of the symmetry of the crystal lattice under low-temperature uniaxial deformation is interpreted by analyzing the observed increase in the activation energy that characterizes the height of the potential barrier separating channels of radiative and nonradiative decay (with the formation of radiation defects) of self-trapped excitons.