For most symmetries the standard parametrization of one-photon electric-dip
ole transitions between crystal-field levels of the 4f(N) configuration of
lanthanide ions gives the same predictions for several quite different para
meter sets. An alternative parametrization scheme that provides separate pa
rameters for each of the different polarization directions removes this ano
maly. A second problem arises due to the fact that multiple local minima ma
y fit the data nearly equally well. Through a detailed reexamination of the
previously well-studied system NdODA, we examine and attempt to resolve th
is local minima problem. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved
.