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Polarized luminescence spectra of kunzite

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Abstract

Kunzite, the pink, manganese-bearing variety of spodumene, is strongly luminescent under UV or electron beam excitation. Laser excitation of an oriented kunzite single crystal has been used to determine the polarization dependence of the luminescence. The emission spectrum, assigned to an Mn2+ center, can be fitted by two Gaussian bands with maxima at 16 568 and 15 679 cm−1. Analysis of the temperature dependence of emission intensity and band width give estimates of the frequency of the phonons assisting the luminescence transitions. These appear to be bond stretching modes of the octahedral site. Analysis of the polarization dependence of emission intensity allows determination of the orientation of the emission dipole. Comparison of the polarization dependence of excitation and emission radiation shows that coupling between absorption dipole and emission dipole is incoherent.

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Author notes

  1. B. K. Chandrasekhar

    Present address: Electroporcelains Division, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd., 560012, Bangalore, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, PA, USA

    B. K. Chandrasekhar & William B. White

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  1. B. K. Chandrasekhar
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  2. William B. White
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Work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DMR-74-00340

Also affiliated with the Department of Geosciences

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Chandrasekhar, B.K., White, W.B. Polarized luminescence spectra of kunzite. Phys Chem Minerals 18, 433–440 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200966

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200966

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