Laser selective excitation and thermal cycling techniques were used to study photo-transformations, and their reverse processes, for the CS(2) center in deuterated and hydrogenated Pr3+-doped crystals. It was found that excitation with a narrow-band laser produced persistent spectral holes, and spectral redistribution within the inhomogeneously broadened absorption line. By using a laser with a line-width that was comparable to the absorption line, measurements were made of reversible polarized-bleaching reorientations and the photo-induced formation of a distinct photo-product center. Measurements were made of the reversion temperatures of reoriented centers and of photo-product centers. The temperature for reversion of CS*(2) photo-product centers was 82K, whereas that for the reversion of reorientated CS(2) centers was 101K. The reversion temperatures for reorientation were identical for both the H− and D− forms of the center. These results were explained in terms of barrier-crossing in asymmetrical double-well potentials.

Barrier Crossing of H- and D- Ions in CS(2) Centers of Hydrogenated SrF2:Pr3+. T.Attenberger, U.Bogner, G.D.Jones, K.M.Murdoch: Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 1997, 58[10], 1513-9