A systematic spectroscopic study of Dy3+ doped LiNbO3 is presented, Th
e energy position of the Stark levels and their symmetry character is
given for most of the multiplets, Luminescence of this system has been
investigated in the visible and infrared, The only emitting state in
this region is the metastable F-4(9/2) multiplet whose life time is te
mperature independent and with a value of 186 mu s. Evidence about Dy3
+ multicentres is also discussed.