Effect of Mn concentration on electron excitation in ZnS: Mn electroluminescent devices

In activated phosphors such as ZnS: Mn the brightness varies with the concentration of the activator, in electroluminescence in another way than in photoluminescence. A model is presented that explains this on the basis of a quenching term and an excitation term involving electron interaction cross sections in Mn. The model is consistent with observed brightness data and supports the findings of other work in ZnS:Mn. An estimate of the low-energy electron interaction cross section of Mn ions suggests a strong interaction to take place.