IR-stimulated visible fluorescence in pink and brown diamond

Abstract

Irradiation of natural pink and brown diamond by middle-ultraviolet light (photon energy epsilon ≥ 4.1 eV) is seen to induce anomalous fluorescence phenomena at N3 defect centres (structure N3−V). When diamonds primed in this fashion are subsequently exposed to infrared light (even with a delay of many hours), a transient burst of blue N3 fluorescence is observed. The dependence of this IR-triggered fluorescence on pump wavelength and intensity suggest that this fluorescence phenomena is intrinsically related to pink diamond photochromism. An energy transfer process between N3 defects and other defect species can account for both the UV-induced fluorescence intensity changes, and the apparent optical upconversion of IR light. From this standpoint, we consider the implications of this N3 fluorescence behaviour for the current understanding of pink diamond photochromism kinetics.