Luminescence in minerals is created by ions, groups of ions, or electronic defects that can absorb energy and emit it as visible light. These units are commonly referred to as “centers” or “activators.” They can be impurities in the mineral or intrinsic constituents. In some cases, separate ions (so-called “sensitizers”) act to aid the luminescence process by preferentially absorbing energy and sending it to the emitting unit. In other cases, ions or electronic defects can slow the emission process by trapping excited electrons. Ions preventing emission from other luminescence centers are called “quenchers.” Some impurities can potentially create almost any luminescent color, while others are known for particular colored emission. Luminescence may exhibit strong zonation in crystals due to selective uptake of the activating ions.
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Research Article|
October 01, 2024
Activators in Minerals and the Role of Electronic Defects
Glenn Waychunas;
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Caltech, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
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Ulf Kempe
Institut für Mineralogie, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Brennhausgasse 14, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
E-mail: [email protected]
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Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Caltech, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America
First Online:
03 Oct 2024
Online ISSN: 1811-5217
Print ISSN: 1811-5209
Copyright © 2024 by the Mineralogical Society of America
Mineralogical Society of America
Elements (2024) 20 (5): 293–298.
Article history
First Online:
03 Oct 2024
Citation
Glenn Waychunas, Ulf Kempe; Activators in Minerals and the Role of Electronic Defects. Elements 2024;; 20 (5): 293–298. doi: https://doi.org/10.2138/gselements.20.5.293
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