Optical properties of the Dy3+ ion in DyOCl

A detailed analysis of the energy level scheme of the Dy3+ ion with the 4f(9) electron configuration was carried out in the DyOCl matriu. The UV-vis-NIR absorption spectra of the tetragonal DyOCl were measured at selected temperatures between 9 and 300 K. The emission spectra of the Dy3+ ion in the LaOCl and GdOCl matrices were obtained at 77 K and room temperature. The experimental energy level scheme of 179 c.f. components representing 57 SLJ states was successfully simulated according to the C-4v site symmetry by a phenomenological model using 14 free ion and five c.f. parameters with an RMS deviation of 21 cm(-1). The results for DyOCl are consistent with those for other RE3+ ions in RE oxychloride hosts. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.