Abstract

Participation of the 29 cm^-1 phonons resonant with the $2\overline{\text{A}}-\overline{\text{E}}$ interval in the Cr³⁺ metastable E-state in the excitation energy transfer between the Cr³⁺ ions in ruby has been discussed repeatedly in the literature[1,2]. The present experiments have been carried out at 1.8 K on Al₂O₃:0.02% Cr crystals under stationary laser pumping. The inhomogeneously broadened R₁ luminescence line reveals weak extended structured wings associated with $\overline{\text{E}}{-}^4{\text{A}}_2$ transitions in the strongly perturbed Cr³⁺ ions (Fig.1). Injection into the sample of heat pulses from a heater film deposited on its surface has been found to generate positive luminescence pulses I(t) on the short wavelength wing of the R₁ line. These-pulses originate from the phonon induced $\overline{\text{E}}$-excitation energy transfer from the main distribution ions (line center) to the perturbed ions.

© 1984 Optical Society of America