HIGH-PRESSURE SOLID-STATE CHEMISTRY DEFECT DYNAMICS USING SITE-SELECTIVE LASER SPECTROSCOPY

We report a new method that can resolve the dynamics of individual def ect centers in model materials at high pressures. Site selective laser spectroscopy is used to measure the defect dynamics in lanthanide dop ed fluorites contained within a diamond anvil cell. After creating a n onequilibrium high pressure distribution of defect centers, the site-r esolved re-equilibration kinetics are measured spectroscopically as th e defect centers interconvert to their low pressure distribution. This work demonstrates the feasibility of this new technique for high pres sure work and reports new data showing diffusional heterogeneity cause d by inter-defect interactions.