PHOTOINDUCED INSTABILITY OF MNO4- MOLECULAR DEFECTS IN POTASSIUM-IODIDE

An instability of the MnO4- molecular ion in KI is reported that occur s under intense resonant excitation in the 1A1 to 1T2 optical transiti on of the impurity. The intensities of the resonantly excited vibratio nal Raman lines and the absorption strength are used to monitor the ti me dependence of this effect which is investigated for different tempe ratures and excitation powers. A physical model is discussed that invo lves ionization of the molecular ion and qualitatively accounts for th e experimental observations.