Spectroscopic properties of tetravalent uranium in glasses

The spectroscopic properties of the tetravalent uranium ion (U4+) have been investigated in fluoride, fluorophosphate and phosphate glasses. Absorptio n and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra were recorded. The energy l evels of the 5f(2) electronic configuration of U4+ are simulated by a set o f free-ion parameters and expressions for the 5f(2) wavefunctions are prese nted. The spectroscopic behaviour of U4+ in glasses is compared with the sp ectroscopic behaviour of U4+ in other matrices. Special attention is paid t o the similarities between the 5f(2) electronic configuration of tetravalen t uranium and the 4f(2) configuration of trivalent praseodymium. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.