Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Zero-field splitting of Cm[sup 3+] in LuPO[sub 4] single crystals

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
  2. Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6056 (United States)
Electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has previously been employed in investigating excited levels of the ground-state manifold of the 5[ital f][sup 7]-configuration ion Cm[sup 3+] diluted in single crystals of the tetragonal-symmetry, zircon-structure hosts LuPO[sub 4] and YPO[sub 4]. The three intradoublet resonances that were observed in these earlier studies, however, were significantly broadened due to radiation damage arising from the use of the 18.1-yr half-life isotope [sup 244]Cm. In the present work, the isotope [sup 248]Cm ([ital T][sub 1/2]=3.4[times]10[sup 5] yr) with a significantly lower specific activity has been incorporated in LuPO[sub 4]-host single crystals in order to reduce the internal radiation-induced damage that can broaden both EPR and optical transitions. By employing these [sup 248]Cm-doped LuPO[sub 4] samples, it has been possible to observe an additional interdoublet transition for Cm[sup 3+], to perform more accurate measurements of the various intradoublet transitions at higher microwave frequencies, and to obtain optical absorption and fluorescence data for this system. These EPR and optical results have led to a more complete and accurate determination of the energy-level structure of Cm[sup 3+]. Additionally, it has been possible to detect magnetic resonance transitions for the Cm[sup 3+] ion at room temperature.
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400; AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
6082655
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 48:17; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English