Site-selective laser and Zeeman infrared spectroscopy ofDy3+centers inSrF2:Dy3+

Abstract

Site-selective laser spectroscopy, Zeeman infrared, and optical absorption have been employed to investigate trivalent dysprosium centers in rare-earth-doped alkaline-earth fluoride crystals. These studies have characterized the two dominant centers in ${\mathrm{SrF}}_{2}:0.05%{\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+},$ which are determined to be the fluorine compensated ${C}_{4\mathrm{v}}$ and ${C}_{3\mathrm{v}}$ centers analogous to those observed in other ${\mathrm{SrF}}_{2}{:R}^{3+}$ systems. The ${C}_{3\mathrm{v}}$ center is shown to correspond to the J center of ${\mathrm{SrF}}_{2}:{\mathrm{Er}}^{3+},$ rather than the B center reported for ${\mathrm{SrF}}_{2}:{\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}.$ The wave functions determined from crystal-field calculations have been tested through comparison of measured and calculated Zeeman infrared interactions. Zeeman interactions between close-lying Kramers doublets have enabled the experimental determination of the ${C}_{3\mathrm{v}}$ crystal-field coordinate basis, resolving an ambiguity that occurs in the crystal-field parametrization.