Intermediate Coupling Energy Levels for Nd3+(4<i>f</i>3) in LaF3

Abstract

The absorption spectrum of Nd3+(4f3) has been investigated in the spectral region 4100 to 60 000 Å. Fluorescence at 77° and 4.2°K has been observed corresponding to transitions from the excited 4F3/2 levels to all the Stark components of the 4I9/2 and 4I11/2 levels. By means of a least-squares method, we have calculated the Slater and spin—orbit parameters from experimentally observed levels whose LSJ assignments are reliable. The values of these parameters giving a best fit between the predicted free-ion spectrum and the spectrum of Nd3+ in LaF3 are F2=338.439 cm−1, F4=47.153 cm−1, F6=5.579 cm−1, and ζ=882.109 cm−1. The average deviation of eight of these levels is 10 cm−1.