Optical bands of F2 and F3+ centers in LiF Original Research Article

Optical absorption and emission spectra have been measured in LiF crystals colored with γ-rays. The optical bands of various samples, suitably treated in order to create different relative concentrations of F2 and defects in the crystal lattice, have been studied in detail at 77 K and at room temperature, and resolved into their components. An accurate determination of the spectroscopic parameters of the absorption and emission bands of the aggregated defects in LiF has been achieved, and a critical comparison with previous data has been performed.