Study of photoluminescence in Cu2O

We have studied the photoluminescence spectrum of Cu2O using a tunable dye laser. We found that most of the luminescence peaks can be identified as due to recombination of the 1 s yellow exciton of Cu2O or its phonon replica. These phonon replicas showed asymmetric broadening with increase in temperature. A few of the lines showed very strong temperature dependence disappearing rapidly at high temperature. The origins of these lines are still a matter of speculation. The luminescence excitation spectrum of Cu2O is also presented and interpreted. © 1975 The American Physical Society.