Dielectric tensor of tetracene single crystals: The effect of anisotropy on polarized absorption and emission spectra

The full UV-visible dielectric tensor and the corresponding directions of the principal axes of triclinic tetracene crystals are reported as deduced either by polarized absorption and ellipsometry measurements or by calculations based on the molecular and crystallographic data. The results allow the attribution of the polarized bands observed in both absorption and photoluminescence emission spectra. In particular, the spectral line shape and polarization of the emission are found to depend on the sample thickness, and the effect is attributed to the modification of the state of polarization of the emitted light during its propagation inside the crystal. Indeed, the directions of polarization of the lowest optical transitions and the directions of the principal axes of the dielectric tensor are demonstrated not to coincide, in contrast to the assumptions typically made in the literature, thus causing the mixed transverse/longitudinal character of light propagation. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.