Magnetic Circular Dichroism of Impurities in Solids: Allowed Electronic Transitions and the LiF F Center

Abstract

We discuss the moment analysis of the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) associated with allowed electronic transitions of impurities in solids. New general expressions are derived for the first four moments of both absorption bands and MCD. Explicit results are calculated for the F‐center F band and used to analyze absorption and MCD data obtained for the LiF F center over the range 10–300°K. The F band excited state spin—orbit splitting and orbital g value are found to be 27 cm⁻¹ and 0.59, respectively. Assuming harmonicity and a linear electron—phonon interaction it is also deduced that cubic and noncubic modes contribute comparably to the bandwidth.