UP-CONVERSION AND RELAXATION KINETICS AMONG CN- VIBRATIONAL-STATES AFTER SINGLE-PULSE 0-]1 EXCITATION IN RUBIDIUM-HALIDE-CYANIDE CRYSTALS

Vibrational luminescence (VL) spectra and time-dependence of their com ponents have been investigated at 14 K under direct excitation of the fundamental v(0-->1) CN- transition with strong and short pulses from a frequency doubled CO2 laser. Up-conversion among CN- vibrational sta tes were established up the v =13 state, typically, depending on CN- c oncentration, excitation density and sample temperature. Time-dependen ce of the VL-signal shows a variety of aspects relevant to the build-u p and relaxation processes for each v-level population after single pu lse v(0-->1) excitation. The observed VL behaviors are explained in te rms of rather fast v-v energy transfer among CN- vibrational states du e to phonon-assisted resonant processes and slow radiative decay proce sses of each v-level.