Absorption Spectra of Dysprosium(III), Holmium(III), and Erbium(III) Aquo Ions.

The narrow f/sup n/-bands of aqueous Dy/sup 3+/, Ho/sup 3+/, and Er/sup 3+/ perchlorates are measured in the range 800-210 m mu . The application of the theory of Slater, Condon, Shortley, and Racah to the distribution of multiplet terms is discussed. The lowest term with the total spin S one unit lower than of the groundstate often decays with fluorescence in the lanthanides and actinides. (auth)