Optical spectroscopy of Nd3+ ions in CsGd2F7 host

Optical spectroscopic studies of the compound CsGd2F7:Nd3+ have been carrie d out with the purpose of determining the lanthanide ion site luminescence properties. These studies have been made at low temperatures with crystals containing 0.3 to 3 at.% of Nd3+ ion substituting for Gd3+ ions. The experi mental results discussed here are based on the analysis of the absorption, fluorescence, and excitation spectra. We have shown the presence of seven a bsorber centers disposed in four groups. Three of them exhibit a substructu re composed of two sites each. These Nd3+ ion centers have been correlated with known crystallographic sites. (C) 1999 Academic Press.