Magneto-optical activity of f–f transitions in elpasolite Rb2NaDyF6

Abstract Absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of f – f transitions 6 H 15/2 → 6 F 3/2 , 6 F 5/2 , 6 ( F 7/2 + H 5/2 ) have been measured in cubic crystal Rb 2 NaDyF 6 with Dy 3+ ions in centrosymmetrical O h positions. Magneto-optical activities (MOA) of the transitions (the ratio of zero moments of the MCD and absorption bands) have been obtained from the corresponding spectra. Origins of the transitions MOA have been analyzed and theoretical estimations of the MOA values have been made. It turned out, that MOA of the transitions in the centrosymmetrical crystal Rb 2 NaDyF 6 (being allowed by odd vibrations) are noticeably larger than those in non-centrosymmetrical compounds, where f – f transitions are allowed by static odd components of crystal field.