Continuous function decay analysis of a multisite impurity activated solid

The technique of continuous function decay analysis, previously used in studies of molecular dynamics, is applied to a solid that is optically activated through impurity doping. Chromium ions occupy several different sites in gahnite glass ceramics, each of which has different luminescence lifetime characteristics but overlapping absorption and emission spectra. Continuous function decay analysis maps the decay patterns of the decaying species, producing histograms of the relative strengths of decay at (in this case) 125 logarithmically spaced lifetimes. The results for chromium ions in gahnite glass ceramics are related to the interaction between the impurity ions and the solid state environment and correlate well with previous studies of this material that have used standard techniques. Continuous function decay analysis is thus shown to be an effective method for understanding the optical behaviour of multisite materials. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.