We have succeeded in observing the Auger-free luminescence, which is radiat
ive recombination of the valence-band electron with the inner-shell hole in
alkali and alkaline-earth halide crystals, by using high-order harmonics o
f a femtosecond Ti : sapphire laser for the first time. (C) 2000 Elsevier S
cience B.V. All rights reserved.