The experimental observation of the potential barrier for self-trapped exciton decay into F-H pair in KCl-Na crystals

Abstract The optical absorption induced by the electron pulse irradiation of Na+ doped KCl has been measured. Transient optical absorption band of FA centers was observed at 80 K (LNT). The temperature dependence of FA center formation was studied. It is proposed that the obtained activation energy originates from the potential barrier between the STE perturbed by the cation impurity and the nearest neighbour FA-H pair. The mechanism of the suppression of the defect formation by the monovalent cation impurity in alkali halide crystals is discussed.