Optical Spectroscopy of Inorganic Solids

This is an introduction to the art of solid state optical spectroscopy. It presents the theoretical basis of the subject and then illustrates the various topics with relevant experimental data. Simple models have been chosen in the theoretical discussions and elementary mathematical models are used to relate theoretical models and their predictions to experimental measurements.Table of ContentPart 1 Spectroscopy and electronic structure of inorganic solids: classical optical constants; spectroscopy and quantum mechanics; atoms and ions in solids; optical properties of solids. Part 2 Energy levels of free atoms and of optical centres in crystals: electronic structure of one-electron atoms; transitions between stationary states; multi-electron atoms; optical centres in a static crystalline envrionment; energy levels of F centres and related defects; crystal field states of a single 3d electron. Part 3 Symmetry and group representation theory: fundamentals of group theory; multi-(3d) electron systems. Part 4 Radiative transition rates and selection rules: time-dependent perturbation theory; interaction between the electronic centre and the radiation field; spontaneous and stimulated optical transitions; selection rules and oscillator strengths in optical centres. Part 5 Electronic centres in a vibrating crystalline environment: lattice vibrations; coupled electron-lattice system; radiative transitions using the configurational coordinate model; the electron-lattice interaction in the weak coupling limit; vibronic processes in broad bands; phonon-induced relaxation processes; non-radiative transitions involving multi-phonon emission. Part 6 Experimental techniques: optical absorption spectroscopy; polarized absorption and luminescence; perturbation and laser spectroscopy; optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR); Picosecond spectroscopy of solids. Part 7 Colour centres in ionic crystals: single vacancy centres in alkali halides and other crystals; vacancy aggregate centres; optical properties of trapped hole centres. Part 8 Spectroscopy of rare-earth and actinide ions in solids: energy levels and eigenstates of the 4fn electrons; selection rules for radiative transitions on rare-earth ions; specific trivalent rare-earth ions; emission from divalent rare-earth ions; defect site spectroscopy; spectroscopy of actinide ions; rare-earth ions in glass. Part 9 Optical spectroscopy of transition metal ions in solids: energy levels and radiative transitions on transition metal ions; non-radiative transitions on transition metal ions in solids; spectroscopy of Cr3+ (3d3) ions; other transition metal ions; transition metal ions in glass. Part 10 Spectroscopy at high dopant concentrations: energy transfer between optically active ions; theoretical analysis of energy transfer; cooperative behaviour, upconversion schemes; multi-centre complexes; fully concentrated materials. Part 11 Solid state lasers: optically pumped three-level lasers; tunable vibronic lasers; production of ultra-short pulses. Part 12 Optical detection of magnetic resonance: ODMR of 3d3 ions; ODMR in the triplet state of defects in insulators; phosphor ions in alkali halides; exciton recombination in crystals; donor-acceptor recombination in semiconductors; spin memory effects in ODMR; optical-microwave coherence spectroscopy.