High resolution absorption and emission spectra of Cr4+ doped Y3Al5O12
are presented. Angular overlap model calculations for the determinati
on of the energy level scheme of the Cr4+:YAG system are presented. Gr
oup-theoretical considerations according to the crystal structure and
the symmetry of the tetrahedrally co-ordinated Cr4+ lattice site are p
resented to explain the observed dependence of the emission spectra on
the direction of polarization.