Spectroscopic analysis and persistent photon-gated spectral hole burning in LiF : F-2(-) color center crystal

Luminescence and absorption spectra of LiF crystals with F-2(-) color cente rs (CCs) were studied in the 14-300 K temperature range. The Huang-Rhys fac tors measured from absorption and emission spectra were equal in magnitude and calculated to be 3.2 and 2.72 at 77 and 300 K, respectively. It was sho wn that below 40 K inhomogeneous broadening of the zero phonon line of the F-2(-) CC prevails over homogeneous broadening. Inhomogeneous broadening of the zero phonon line was observed to vary from 5 to 15 cm(-1) for differen t crystal preparations. Persistent spectral hole burning stable at room tem perature was realized in LiF:F-2(-) crystals. (C) 2001 American Institute o f Physics.