Magneto-optical study of LaF3:Eu3+

The polarised absorption spectra of the Eu3+ ion in a LaF3 host are registered at 4.2 K and room temperature in the spectral region of 380-2100 nm. Magnetic circular dichroism spectra of LaF3:Eu3+ are registered at 4.2 K and room temperature between 400 and 700 nn. The magnetic field has a strength of 6.2 T. The free ion parameters and the crystal field and intensity parameters representative for the C-2 site symmetry, are optimised in a least-squares fitting of experimental against calculated values of the energies and dipole strengths. The optimised set of parameters is then evaluated by simulating the polarised absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.