Crystal field analysis of Tm3+ and Yb3+ in YPO4 and LuPO4

Abstract

The optical and near infrared absorption of dilute Tm3+ and Yb3+ impurities in YPO4 and LuPO4 single crystals have been measured at liquid helium and nitrogen temperatures. For Tm3+, the spectral region from 5 000 to 38 000 cm−1 was examined and Zeeman spectra were obtained in the visible region. The observed transitions were assigned and fit to a semiempirical Hamiltonian with adjustable parameters via a least-squares procedure. Satisfactory fits and good agreement between the calculated and measured g values were obtained. For Yb3+, there are more parameters than experimental levels, so ζ, B20, B40, and B44 were adjusted, while B60 and B64 were fixed at the values found for Tm3+. Energy levels and Zeeman splittings calculated with these parameters are in good agreement with the measured quantities.