Site-Selective Spectroscopy And Crystal-Field Analysis For Nd3+ In Strontium Fluorovanadate

Abstract

Site‐selective spectroscopy reveals that Nd3+ ions occupy more than 40 different crystal‐field environments in Sr5(VO4)3F. Preferential energy transfer to the site responsible for 1 μm lasing occurs but becomes less complete with increasing temperature. The 4I and 4F3/2 Stark levels of the lasing site have been determined and an analysis of the crystal field performed. From the crystal‐field fitting parameters Bkq, a calculated energy‐level spectrum is determined up to 17 500 cm−1 with a rms deviation from the available experimental levels of 6 cm−1