Excitation and emission spectra and lifetimes of Mn2+ in cadmium chlor
ide have been studied using the photoluminescence technique. A crystal
-field analysis of the Mn2+ transitions by means of the model develope
d by Curie et al. allowed us to determine the magnitudes for the relev
ant crystal-field parameters as well as for the spin-transfer coeffici
ents f(sigma) and f(pi). The different mechanisms involved in the rela
xation of excited Mn2+ ions in the CdCl2 host crystal were obtained fr
om the study of the thermal evolution of the Mn2+-emission lifetime.