Optical properties of the Bi+ center in KAlCl4

Abstract

Temperature behavior of the Bi+ center emission, excitation bands and luminescence decay law in KAlCl4 crystal are investigated. Abrupt changes of the monocation optical properties are observed at phase transitions of the host. The observed optical transitions are assigned to the specific energy states of Bi+ ion. It is shown that two thermalized levels are responsible for the luminescence. The experimental temperature behavior of the emission and excitation bands are in agreement with theory of electron-phonon interaction of impurity centers in solids; the effective-phonon frequencies and Huang-Rhys parameters are estimated. The configuration coordinate diagram is determined for the Bi+ center in KAlCl4 crystal.