High pressure solid state chemistry defect dynamics using site selective laser spectroscopy

We report a new method that can resolve the dynamics of individual defect centers in model materials at high pressures. Site selective laser spectroscopy is used to measure the defect dynamics in lanthanide doped fluorites contained within a diamond anvil cell. After creating a nonequilibrium high pressure distribution of defect centers, the site-resolved re-equilibration kinetics are measured spectroscopically as the defect centers interconvert to their low pressure distribution. This work demonstrates the feasibility of this new technique for high pressure work and reports new data showing diffusional heterogeneity caused by inter-defect interactions.