Quantitative theory of luminescent centres in a configurational diagram model: I. Description of the method

Abstract A description is given of a method which yields numerical estimates for line or band intensities of emissions in localized centres in solids. In this method the eigenstates of the “system” characterized by two or three intersecting parabolae (each belonging to a different electronic state), are obtained by numerical matrix diagonalization. Rate equations involving both radiative and non-radiative processes are derived and solved numerically. The non-radiative processes arise from the coupling of the “system” with the phonons of the lattice, which acts as a thermal bath. Two types of tunnelling (called horizontal and vertical) between potentials are distinguished and their relative importance determined. Numerical results are presented in the sequel paper.