Energy levels of Nd3+ in LiYF4

Abstract

High-resolution absorption spectra of Nd3+ in LiYF4 were recorded between 3900 and 40 200 cm−1 at temperatures from 10 to 300 K. The levels were obtained by diagonalizing a Hamiltonian that describes the free ion parameters, including two and three-body configuration interactions, as well as the crystal field operator. Calculations were performed using the complete basis of 364 ‖αSLJMj〉 kets of the 4f3 configuration of Nd3+. A set of free ion and crystal field parameters were calculated which fitted energy levels with an rms deviation of 22 cm−1 with respect to 134 experimentally determined levels.