A method for assigning satellite lines to crystallographic sites in rare earth crystals

TL;DR

This paper introduces an experimental technique to assign satellite lines in rare earth crystal spectra to specific sites by measuring hyperfine splitting caused by magnetic interactions, aiding in understanding defect-ionic interactions.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel method for associating satellite lines with crystal sites using hyperfine splitting measurements, applied to Ce3+:EuCl3.6H2O to identify 13 satellite lines.

Findings

Satellite line shifts are loosely dependent on dopant distance.

Dipole-dipole interaction dominates beyond 7 Å.

Additional interactions, likely superexchange, occur below 7 Å.

Abstract

We describe an experimental technique for associating the satellite lines in a rare earth optical spectrum caused by a defect with the rare earth ions in crystal sites around that defect. This method involves measuring the hyperfine splitting caused by a magnetic dipole-dipole interaction between host ions and a magnetic defect. The method was applied to Ce3+:EuCl3.6H2O to assign 13 of the outermost 22 satellite lines to sites. The assignments show that the optical shift of a satellite line is loosely dependent on the distance to the dopant. The interaction between host and dopant ions is purely dipole-dipole at distances greater than 7 Angstroms, with an additional contribution, likely superexchange, at distances less than 7 Angstroms.