Low-Temperature Properties ofH,V, andFCenters in KCl and KBr

Abstract

Potassium chloride and potassium bromide crystals were exposed to x rays at 10°K. The optical absorption produced by this irradiation and the changes in optical absorption produced by subsequent annealing at higher temperatures were measured. The temperatures at which changes in optical absorption occurred were correlated with the temperatures at which free electrical charge appeared, and thermoluminescence was observed. The absorption band at 345 mμ, in KCl, which has been named the $H$ band, is shown to result from the superposition of two or more bands, one of which is the absorption band due to self-trapped holes. In KCl, the self-trapped hole band bleaches thermally at 43°K with a release of free electrical charge. $H$ centers disappear at 56°K with a release of free charge. The optical absorption band of the $H$ center is shown to have its maximum at 335 mμ. In KBr, the thermal release of free charge at 30°K is attributed to the disappearance of $H$ centers. No charge burst was observed in KBr which may be attributed to the destruction of self-trapped holes.