Crystal-field analysis for RE 3+ ions in laser materials: II. Absorption spectra and energy levels calculations for Nd 3+ ions doped into SrLaGa 3O 7 and BaLaGa 3O 7 crystals and Tm 3+ ions in SrGdGa 3O 7

Abstract

Low temperature polarized absorption spectra are analyzed to achieve assignments of energy levels for Nd 3+ and Tm 3+ ions at monoclinic C s site symmetry in ABC 3O 7 crystals. Based on the concept of average optical center, the experimental energy levels for single crystals of SrLaGa 3O 7:Nd 3+ (SLG:Nd), BaLaGa 3O 7:Nd 3+ (BLG:Nd), and SrGdGa 3O 7:Tm 3+ (SGG:Tm) were analyzed in terms of the free-ion parameters and the crystal field (CF) ones, B kq . Assignments of the energy levels resolved in the spectra were done in stages applying the ascent/descent in symmetry method in CF analysis. The actual monoclinic C s site symmetry at the metal centers in ABC 3O 7 crystals and the approximated orthorhombic C 2v and tetragonal C 4v symmetry were considered. The starting values of B kq ’s for SLG:Nd and BLG:Nd crystals were obtained from superposition model (SPM) analysis. The final fitted crystal field parameters show high compatibility with the existing data for structurally similar ion-host systems. The obtained values of the intrinsic parameters provide basis for SPM analysis of CF parameters for rare earth ions in other similar systems, especially those exhibiting low-symmetry sites. The SPM parameters derived for SLG:Nd are used for simulation and assignment of the energy levels involved in the potential laser transitions at about 1800 nm due to Tm 3+ ions in SGG crystals. The evaluated emission cross-section is about two times lower than that obtained previously.