AbstractAbsorption energies of the F+‐centre in Li2O and other alkali‐oxides of antifluorite structure are calculated numerically using the point ion and model potentials incorporating core repulsion based on the modified Bartram, Stoneham and Gash pseudopotential as proposed by Matthew and Green. Other effects such as electronic polarization and ionic distortion are also considered. The results obtained are in good agreement with the experimentally assigned value for the band peak position and with the recent variational calculations by Ong on the same syst