Energy transfer and rate equations—application to ruby

Abstract

Abstract Atomistic rate equations are represented for the transfer of optical excitation energy between donor and acceptor ions in ionic crystals. The physical assumptions which are necessary to deduce the phenomenological collective rate equations from the atomistic ones are specified. Time resolved measurements of the energy transfer from isolated Cr 3+ ions to Cr 3+ pairs in ruby are discussed. It is shown that, contrary to the present ideas, the collective rate equations cannot be applied in this case.