Narrowband red luminescence of tetrahedral-site Fe3+ In Ca8Mg(SiO4)4Cl2

We have measured the excitation and emission spectra, and lifetime for Fe3+ in the Ca8Mg(SiO4)4Cl2 compound. The spectroscopic data of the ferric ion (Fe3+) is interpreted within the framework of the Tanabe-Sugano crystal field theory for ions with the d5 electronic configuration. Quantitative evaluation of the Racah parameters B and C and the crystal field parameter (10 Dq) is provided. The emission and excitation data are consistent for Fe3+ in a tetrahedral-site occupancy. The red emission is assigned to the 4T1 (4G)→6A1 (6S) crystal field transition. The remarkable feature of the luminescence is the positioning of the emission band; it is centered at 623 nm with a Full Width at Half Maximum of 51 nm. To the best of our knowledge this is one of the highest energy emission for the tetrahedral-site Fe3+ ion. The practical implication of this spectral power distribution is discussed. The temperature dependency of the luminescence lifetime and emission intensity are reported.