The 15 K polarized single-crystal absorption spectra of Fe6+ doped K2S
O4 consist of two sharp bands below 10 000 cm(-1) assigned to the spin
-flip transitions (3)A(2) --> (1)E, (1)A(1) and a series of broad band
s in the near-infrared (NIR) and visible region assigned to (3)A(2) --
> T-3(2), T-3(1) d --> d transitions and O --> Fe charge transfer tran
sitions. From the excited state absorption (ESA) spectrum we derive th
at the T-1(2) state lies 19 300 cm(-1) above the (3)A(2) ground state.
This allows a clear assignment of all the ligand field states below 3
3 000 cm(-1), which is in good agreement with an angular overlap model
(AOM) calculation. Differences in the temperature dependence of the (
1)E --> (3)A(2) luminescence intensity upon broadband and (3)A(2) -->
(1)A(1) excitation are shown to be due to direct nonradiative relaxati
on processes from T-3(2) to the (3)A(2) ground state.