Analysis of the Importance of Matrix Correlations through Hole-Burning Experiments in Dye-Doped Rare Gas Matrices

Stochastic models to describe the inhomogeneous broadening of electronic transitions of dye molecules in amorphous hosts [1] and to account for the effects of external hydrostatic pressure on spectral holes [2] have been applied to analyze experimental results obtained in a variety of samples, with hosts ranging from polymers to aerogels. With these models it was possible to determine the compressibilities of various polymers by purely optical experiments. It is interesting that these results are in agreement with mechanically obtained data within approx. 15%. Furthermore, the depth ϵ of the assumed Lennard-Jones dye-matrix interaction potential could be calculated.