Excited state absorption in Mn5+: Sr5(VO4)3F

We report measurements of the excited state absorption (ESA) spectra of Mn:SVAP for both σ and π polarizations upon laser excitation at 700 nm. The results indicate that strong ESA with cross sections of the order of 10−18 cm2 covers most or all of the visible spectral region and extends to about 1150 nm. An even stronger ESA band exists in the blue and near ultraviolet region. The polarizations of the observed bands are not adequately explained by intraionic Mn5+ transitions, indicating that molecular orbital states lie at least as low as 24500 cm−1.