Optical absorption, excitation, and emission spectra ofEu3+inLiNbO3

A detailed study of optical absorption, excitation, and emission spectra of ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}$ in the ${\mathrm{LiNbO}}_3$ lattice is presented within the 2700–22 000-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$ range. The positions of the crystal-field levels in $C_3$ symmetry are given for the ${}_{}{}^7{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{F}$ multiplet and the three lowest levels of the ${}_{}{}^5{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{D}$ multiplet. Most of the observed bands are assigned to specific transitions within this scheme, and a simple estimate of the crystal-field parameters is given.