Polarized Spectra and Crystal-Field Parameters ofEu+3in YVO4

Abstract

The polarized emission and absorption spectra of single crystals of yttrium vanadate doped with ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{+3\mathrm{}}$ were measured and analyzed. The spectra are consistent with the $D_{2d}$ site symmetry of the ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{+3\mathrm{}}$ ion in this lattice, and no significant violation of the appropriate electric- and magnetic-dipole selection rules is found. Most of the observed transitions are identified, and the complete energy-level structure of the ion has been defined for all states below the ${}_{}{}^5{}_{}{}^{}D_3^{}{}_{}{}^{}$. A crystal-field model has been used to describe the structure of the ${}_{}{}^7{}_{}{}^{}F$ multiplet. The requisite crystal-field parameters have been ascertained and the energies of the various Stark levels calculated. The simple electrostatic field approximation is found to give an adequate description of the experimental data, but the necessity for a more refined treatment is indicated.