DYE-LASER EXCITATION AND CRYSTAL-FIELD CALCULATION OF THE NON-GARNET SITE IN (YGG) Y3GA5O12 PR3+

The luminescent properties of the trivalent praseodymium ion (4f2 configuration) in Y3Ga5O12 (YGG) with the garnet structure are analysed. Two different environments for the rare earth ion were found. The crystal field calculation was performed on the ''non-garnet'' site in the C2 symmetry. The model, consisting of 22 parameters with 8 free ion and 14 crystal field parameters, reproduced the experimental energy level scheme of 57 electronic levels attributed to the ''non-garnet'' site with a root mean square (rms) deviation of 18 cm-1. The real part of the crystal field parameter's values for the ''non-garnet'' site and the garnet site are of the same order of magnitude.