Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
The results of a photoluminescence (PL) study of synthetic diamonds annealed over the temperature range 1500-2500°C are presented. For nickel- and nitrogen-containing diamonds a number of new, previously undocumented PL systems with zero-phonon lines (ZPLs) at 598.5, 622.6, 638.9, 752.1 and 877.2 nm has been found. Photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra for PL systems with ZPLs at 727.1 and 746.6 nm have been measured for the first time. Preliminary results on annealing behavior of the PL centers have been obtained. Of all the PL systems observed only that ones with ZPLs at 752.1 and 793.0 nm together with the S2 and S3 optical centers are present in diamonds annealed at temperatures higher than 2200°C.