The spectral and temperature dependence of the optical absorption and therm
ally stimulated depolarization currents in Fe-doped Bi12SiO20 and Bi12GeO20
crystals are investigated in the photon energy range 1.36-3.46 eV and temp
erature 85-750 K. The results show thermally induced electron redistributio
n between donor and acceptor levels and defect association-dissociation pro
cesses and are discussed using the configuration-coordinate model. (C) 1999
American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7834(99)01706-2].