Luminescence from Ti²⁺ ions in LiF crystals

Abstract

Luminescence of Ti²⁺: LiF crystals in the wavelength range 650–900 nm excited using laser radiation is reported. The values of 10Dq and the Racah B parameter obtained from the present results indicate that in LiF the ¹ E, ¹ T ₂, and ³ T ₂ energy levels are almost at the “cross-over” point in the Tanabe-Sugano diagram. In consequence photoluminescence from all three energy levels to the ground state is observed. At low temperature (T ∼ 14 K) the emission is mainly due to sharp emission lines with weak vibronic structure due to the ¹ E, ¹ T ₂→³ T ₁ transitions of Ti²⁺ ions. The ³ T ₂→³ T ₁ broad-band emission is weak at low temperature, becoming stronger at 300 K due to a phonon-assisted tunnelling process, similar to that observed in Cr³⁺: garnets [1]. The excitation spectrum of these lines is a broad peak at 590 nm due to absorption in the ³ T ₁→³ T ₂ transition.