Absorption Spectrum of Europium Iron Garnet between 1900 and 5400 cm−1

This article deals with an experimental and theoretical study on the split 7F manifolds of EuIG. Similarities have been established between the position of some of the energy levels of EuIG, Eu3+:YAlG, and Eu3+:YGaG. These similarities enable one (a) to assign bands in the absorption spectrum of EuIG in the infrared, which are due to the exchange field, and (b) to evaluate approximate crystal-field parameters. The best estimate of these parameters yields: A20 = +105 cm−1, A22 = ±95 cm−1, A40 = −140 cm−1, A44 = −700 cm−1, A60 = 30 cm−1, and A64 = +630 cm−1.