Modeling optical transitions of Er3+(4f11) in C2 and C3i sites in polycrystalline Y2O3

Abstract

The optical properties of Er3+ in polycrystalline (ceramic), and nanocrystalline forms of cubic (bixbyite) yttrium oxide are modeled based on the absorption spectra obtained between 400 and 1700 nm and the fluorescence spectra observed between 1500 and 1670 nm. Both spectra were obtained at 8 K. The observed crystal-field splitting and the measured intensities of transitions between Stark levels of the L2S+1J multiplet manifolds of Er3+(4f11) in both the C2 and C3i sites of Y2O3 are analyzed in terms of established models. The inversion symmetry of C3i sites limits the observed electronic transitions to magnetic dipole transitions between the I413/2 and I415/2 manifolds. There is no spectroscopic evidence for transitions involving other multiplet manifolds of Er3+ ions in C3i sites. For Er3+ ions in C2 sites, forced electric dipole transitions are allowed between the J+12 Stark levels associated with each manifold. With few exceptions, the crystal-field splitting and the intensities of the transitions between Stark levels are comparable between the nanocrystalline, polycrystalline, and the flame fusion grown crystals of cubic yttrium oxide containing trivalent erbium.