The spectral properties of the S-1(0) state in SrAl12O19 : Pr

In this Letter we report the spectral properties of the Pr3+ S-1(0) state i n SrAl12O19. The S-1(0) level was observed directly in the excitation spect rum, its position was determined to be 46490 +/- 10 cm(-1). The estimated H -3(4) --> S-1(0) absorption cross section is 5.3 x 10(-20) cm(2). The lifet ime of the S-1(0) excited state is 658 ns. The main opposite parity compone nt mixed into 4f(2 1)S(0) is from the 4f(1)5d F-1(3) and H-1(5) spectral te rms. The transitions from S-1(0) to 4f(2 1)G(4) and F-3(4) are zero-phonon transition dominated, while the transition from S-1(0) to I-1(6) is vibroni c in nature. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.