Variation of the Pr^3+ nuclear quadrupole resonance spectrum across the inhomogeneous optical line in Pr^3+:LaF_3

We report nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) frequency and linewidth variations of the Pr3+ ground-state hyperfine levels for various positions within the 3H4(Γ1)–1D2(Γ1) inhomogeneous optical line and satellite transitions of Pr3+:LaF3. A linear increase in the broadening of the Pr3+ hyperfine transitions, without a shift of central frequency, is measured by the Stark modulated optical pumping hole-burning technique as the laser is tuned toward the wings of the inhomogeneous optical transition. The linear variation is attributed to electric quadrupole broadening caused by changes in the local density of point defects across the Stark-broadened optical transition. The optically detected NQR spectra of the satellite transitions associated with Pr ion pairs are shifted in frequency and for most satellites are narrower than the NQR spectra found in the wings of the main inhomogeneous optical line.