Infrared absorption by localized electrons in solid deuterium

Abstract

A broad absorption in the spectral region 4000–7500 cm −1 has been observed in tritiated as well as proton-irradiated samples of solid deuterium. To explain this absorption we investigate two different types of localized electronic states in the solid. It is shown that the absorption can be interpreted as being due to the lowest energy bound-state transitions of electrons localized in nonspherical cavities of two different average radii. The localization is assumed to be initiated by vacancies. The shape of the absorption line is calculated by estimating the cavity size and the frequency of the breathing-mode oscillation of these cavities.