color center

(solid-state physics) A point lattice defect which produces optical absorption bands in an otherwise transparent crystal.

Atomic and electronic defects of various types which produce optical absorption bands in otherwise transparent crystals such as the alkali halides, alkaline earth fluorides, or metal oxides. They are general phenomena found in a wide range of materials. Color centers are produced by gamma radiation or x-radiation, by addition of impurities or excess constituents, and sometimes through electrolysis. A well-known example is that of the F-center in alkali halides such as sodium chloride, NaCl. The designation F-center comes from the German word Farbe, which means color. F-centers in NaCl produce a band of optical absorption toward the blue end of the visible spectrum; thus the colored crystal appears yellow under transmitted light. On the other hand, KCl with F-centers appears magenta, and KBr appears blue. See also Crystal.

Color centers have been under investigation for many years. Theoretical studies guided by detailed experimental work have yielded a deep understanding of specific centers. The crystals in which color centers appear tend to be transparent to light and to microwaves. Consequently, experiments which can be carried out include optical spectroscopy, luminescence and Raman scattering, magnetic circular dichroism, magnetic resonance, and electromodulation. Color centers find practical application in radiation dosimeters; schemes have been proposed to use color centers in high-density memory devices; and tunable lasers have been made from crystals containing color centers.

The illustration shows the absorption bands due to color centers produced in potassium bromide by exposure of the crystal at the temperature of liquid nitrogen (81 K) to intense penetrating x-rays. Several prominent bands appear as a result of the irradiation. The F-band appears at 600 nanometers and the so-called V-bands appear in the ultraviolet.

intrinsic absorption in crystals (modified slightly by existence of F-centers).">
Absorption bands produced in a KBr crystal by exposure to x-rays at 81 K. Bands are designated by letters. Optical density is equal to log₁₀ (I₀/I), where I₀ is the intensity of incident light and I the intensity of transmitted light. Steep rise in optical density at far left is due to intrinsic absorption in crystals (modified slightly by existence of F-centers).

Color bands such as the F-band and the V-band arise because of light absorption at defects dispersed throughout the lattice. This absorption is caused by electronic transitions at the centers. On the other hand, colloidal particles, each consisting of many atoms, dispersed through an optical medium also produce color bands. In this case, if the particles are large enough, the extinction of light is due to both light scattering and light absorption. Colloidal gold is responsible for the color of some types of ruby glass. Colloids may also form in alkali halide crystals—for example, during heat treatment of an additively colored crystal with an excess of alkali metal.

Atomically dispersed centers such as F-centers are part of the general phenomena of trapped electrons and holes in solids. The accepted model of the F-center is an electron trapped at a negative ion vacancy. Many other combinations of electrons, holes, and clusters of lattice vacancies have been used to explain the various absorption bands in ionic crystals.

Impurities can play an important role in color-center phenomena. Certain impurities in ionic crystals produce color bands characteristic of the foreign ion. For example, hydrogen can be incorporated into the alkali halides with resultant appearance of an absorption band (the U-band) in the ultraviolet. In this case, the U-centers interact with other defects. The rate at which F-centers are produced by x-irradiation is greatly increased by the incorporation of hydrogen, the U-centers being converted into F-centers with high efficiency.