Investigation of the local structure and the effects of the orbit reduction factor on the EPR g-factors for octahedral (CrO6) cluster in TiO2:Cr and MgO:Cr systems

A theoretical method for studying the inter-relation between electronic and molecular structure has been proposed based on the complete energy matrices for a d³ configuration ion in a tetragonal ligand-field. By means of this method, the local structure for Cr³⁺ ion doped in oxides TiO₂ (anatase) and MgO has been determined. The calculated results indicate that the local structure of the (CrO₆)⁹⁻ cluster in TiO₂:Cr³⁺ and MgO:Cr³⁺ systems exists as a compressed distortion relative to the regular octahedron. Meanwhile, the dependence of the EPR zero-field splitting parameter D on the local structure parameter ΔR (ΔR=R₁−R₂) has been revealed. In addition, the relation between the EPR g-factors (g,g,Δg) and the orbit reduction factor k has been discussed for the two systems, suggesting that the orbit reduction factor k is very important to understand the EPR g-factors.     

Investigations of the optical band positions,EPR parameters and defect structure for the trigonal Cr3+–Li+ centre in CsMgCl3 crystal

A unified calculation of optical band positions and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) (or spin-Hamiltonian) parameters for the trigonal Cr³⁺–Li⁺ centre in CsMgCl₃ crystal is made by using the complete diagonalisation (of energy matrix) method based on the two-spin–orbit-parameter model. In this model, the contributions from the spin–orbit parameter of central dⁿ ion and that of ligand ion are included. From the calculation, the 11 observed optical and EPR data (eight optical band positions and three EPR parameters g_//, g_⊥, D) are reasonably explained with five adjustable parameters and the defect structure of the Cr³⁺–Li⁺ centre (which is consistent with the expectation based on the electrostatic interaction) in CsMgCl₃ is acquired. The results are discussed.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance parameters of Mn<Superscript>4+</Superscript> ion in h-BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystal from a two-mechanism model

The EPR parameters (g factors g _‖, g _⊥ and zero-field splitting D) of Mn⁴⁺ ion in h-BaTiO₃ crystal are calculated from the complete high-order perturbation formulas based on a two-mechanism model for the EPR parameters of 3d ³ ions in trigonal symmetry. In the model, not only the widely used crystal-field mechanism, but also the charge-transfer mechanism (which is not considered in crystal-field theory) are included. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. The relative importance of charge-transfer mechanism to EPR parameters and the defect structure of Mn⁴⁺ centre in h-BaTiO₃ crystal obtained from the calculations are discussed.      

Investigations on the local structure and EPR parameters for the trigonal Nd3+ centre in CdS

The local structure and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g factors and hyperfine structure constants) for the trigonal Nd³⁺ centre in CdS are theoretically investigated by considering the local lattice relaxation. The impurity Nd³⁺ is found not to occupy exactly the host Cd²⁺ site, but to suffer a shift of about 0.31 Å away from the sulphide triangle along the C₃ axis due to size and charge mismatch. The theoretical EPR parameters based on the above impurity axial displacement are in good agreement with the observed values. The local structure and the EPR parameters are discussed for this centre.     

Theoretical investigation of electron paramagnetic resonance parameters and lattice distortion in α-Al2O3 crystal doped with V3+ ions

The electron paramagnetic resonance parameters D, g _∥ and g _⊥ for V³⁺ ions in α-Al₂O₃ crystals are calculated on the basis of the complete diagonalization method and the superposition model. In the calculation, the contributions of the variation of the cation–ligand bond lengths and bond angles are taken into consideration. The calculated results agree well with the experimental data. Our investigation shows that the local structure around the V³⁺ ions possesses a compressed trigonal distortion above the O^2?-triangle and an elongated trigonal distortion in the lower one.     

Local structure of the trigonal defect center for Cr3+ ions in KMgF3 crystals

Abstract

The zero-field splitting D, the anisotropic g-factors g _∥, Δg(=g _∥ ? g _⊥) and the first excited state splitting Δ(² E) for the trigonal Cr³⁺–V_K center in KMgF₃: Cr³⁺ crystals have been studied from Macfarlane's high-order perturbation formulas. From the studies, the local structure of the trigonal center is obtained. The local lattice distortions (i.e., the displacement directions of the ions in the center) are consistent with the expectation based on the electrostatic interaction.     

Investigation of local lattice structure around Cr3+ ions at the trigonal and tetragonal sites in RbCdF3: Cr3+ crystal

The local lattice structure and EPR, optical spectra for Cr³⁺ doped in RbCdF₃ crystal have been studied by diagonalizing the complete energy matrices. The results show that the local structure of the Cr³⁺ ions in RbCdF₃ exhibits a compressed distortion at the trigonal and tetragonal sites. The compressed distortion can be ascribed to the fact that the radius of Cr³⁺ ion is smaller than that of Cd²⁺ ion, and therefore Cr³⁺ ion will draw the fluorin ligands inwards. The variational ranges of the local structural parameters for Cr³⁺ doped in RbCdF₃ crystal R =?1.9491 Å ～?1.9814 Å, θ?= 55.234° ～?55.286° at the trigonal site and R ₁ =?1.8617 Å ～?1.8928 Å, R ₂ =?1.9527 Å ～?1.9851 Å at tetragonal site are obtained respectively, and the EPR and optical spectra agree well with the experimental results.     

Calculations of the optical and EPR spectral data for Cr3+ ion in Y3Ga5O12 crystal from the complete diagonalisation method

The complete diagonalisation (of energy matrix) method is applied in this paper to calculate together the optical and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectral data for Cr³⁺ ion at the trigonal Ga³⁺ site of Y₃Ga₅O₁₂ crystal. The method is founded on the two-spin-orbit-parameter model where in addition to the contributions from the spin-orbit parameter of central dⁿ ion (i.e., one-spin-orbit-parameter model) in the traditional crystal field theory, those from the spin-orbit parameter of ligand ion via covalence effect is also considered. The calculated results propose that by using only four adjustable parameters, the 12 observed spectral data (nine optical band positions and three EPR parameters g_//, g_⊥ and D) in Y₃Ga₅O₁₂: Cr³⁺ are reasonably explained. The impurity-induced local lattice distortion of Cr³⁺ in Y₃Ga₅O₁₂ crystal is also estimated through the calculations. The results are discussed.     

Local structure and the electron paramagnetic resonance parameters for the Cr3+ ions at K+-vacancy site in Cr3+:KZnF3 laser crystal

The quantitative relationship between the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters D,g_∥,g_⊥ and the local structure parameters of Cr³⁺ ion in KZnF₃ crystals is established. The local structure for Cr³⁺ paramagnetic center in KZnF₃:Cr³⁺ crystal has been determined from EPR parameters of Cr³⁺ ion. This work shows that the trigonal crystal field of Cr³⁺ ion in KZnF₃ crystals comes from following two origins: (1) the nearest-neighbor K⁺ vacancy caused by the charge compensation in the [1 1 1]-axis direction; and (2) the lattice distortions of the nearest-neighbor fluorine coordination caused by the K⁺ vacancy and the differences in mass, charge, and radius between Cr³⁺ ion and Zn²⁺ ion. The unified calculation of the EPR zero-field splitting and g factors, taking into account the K⁺ vacancy and the lattice distortions, has been carried out on the basis of the complete diagonalization procedure and the superposition crystal-field model, all calculation results are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. Although the main source of the trigonal crystal field comes from the K⁺ vacancy caused by the charge compensation, the contribution of the lattice distortion cannot be neglected.     

Studies on the spin Hamiltonian parameters for Mn2+ in the ZnS nanocrystals and bulks

The spin Hamiltonian parameters (zero-field splitting D, g factors and hyperfine structure constants) are theoretically studied for Mn²⁺ in the ZnS nanocrystals and bulks from the perturbation formulae of these quantities for trigonal and cubic tetrahedral 3d⁵ clusters, respectively. The trigonal Mn²⁺ centre in the ZnS nanocrystals is attributed to the impurity–ligand bond angle related to the C₃ axis about 0.39° larger than that (≈109.47°) of an ideal tetrahedron. Almost the same g factors and hyperfine structure constants for the nanocrystals and bulks can be ascribed to similar crystal-field environments (i.e. comparable cubic field parameters Dq), nearly the same covalency (i.e. the equal covalency factors N) and the Mn²⁺ 3d–3s orbital admixture (i.e. the identical core polarisation constants κ) in both systems. The ligand orbital and spin–orbit coupling contributions are found to be important and should be included in the electron paramagnetic resonance analysis in view of significant covalency.     

Theoretical studies of the defect structures and spin Hamiltonian parameters for manganese(II) and nickel(II) doped Zn(en)3(NO3)2 single crystals

The spin Hamiltonian parameters (g factors, hyperfine structure constants and zero-field splittings D and E) and local structures for Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ in [Zn(en)₃](NO₃)₂ single crystal are theoretically investigated from the perturbation calculations for trigonally distorted 3d⁵ and trigonally (or orthorhombically) distorted 3d⁸ cluster. The trigonal Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ centres are found to undergo the moderate angular variations Δβ of 4.5° and 5.2°, respectively, related to host Zn²⁺ site due to size mismatch. The orthorhombic Ni²⁺ centre shows the relative axial elongation ratio ρ (≈ 2.5%) and the relative perpendicular bond length variation ratio τ (≈0.2%). For Mn²⁺ centre, the contributions to g-shifts Δg_CT (or hyperfine structure constants A_CT and zero-field splitting D_CT) from charge-transfer (CT) mechanism are opposite in sign and five times (or 5% and 8%) in magnitude compared with those from crystal-field (CF) mechanism. For the trigonal Ni²⁺ centre, Δg_CT (or D_CT) are the same (or opposite) in sign and 17% (or 2%) in magnitude related to those from CF mechanism. For the orthorhombic Ni²⁺ centre, Δg_CT and E_CT (or D_CT) are same (or opposite) in sign and 16% and 48% (or 442%) in magnitude with respect to those from the CF mechanism. The signs and magnitudes of the trigonal distortion angles δβ (≈ ?0.3 and 0.4°) related to an ideal octahedron and the local angular variations Δβ related to the host bond angle are suitably illustrated by those of the axial distortion degree (ADD) and the angular variation degree (AVD) of the systems, respectively.     

Spin-Hamiltonian Parameters and Defect Structure of the Copper (2+) Center in Lithium Borate

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (the anisotropic g factors g _|| and g _⊥ and the hyperfine structure constants A _|| and A _⊥) for the impurity Cu²⁺ in Li₂B₄O₇ are theoretically investigated using the high-order perturbation formulas of these parameters for a 3d ⁹ ion in tetragonally elongated octahedra. In the calculation formulas, the tetragonal field parameters D_s and D_t are determined from the superposition model, by considering the relative axial elongation of the oxygen octahedron around Cu²⁺ due to the Jahn-Teller effect. Based on the calculations, the relative axial elongation of about 0.21 Å for the tetragonal Cu²⁺ center was found.     

EPR parameters and local lattice structure study of V ions in CdCl2 and CsMgCl3 crystals

The local lattice structure and EPR parameters (D, g_‖, g_⊥) have been studied systematically on the basis of the complete energy matrix for a d³ configuration ion in a trigonal ligand field. By simulating the calculated optical and EPR spectra data to the experimental results, the local distortion parameters (ΔR, Δθ) are determined for V²⁺ ions in CdCl₂ and CsMgCl₃ crystals, respectively. The results show that the local lattice structure of CdCl₂:V²⁺ system exhibits a compression distortion (ΔR=−0.0868 Å) while that of CsMgCl₃:V²⁺ system exists an elongation distortion (ΔR=0.0165 Å). The different distortion may be ascribed to the fact that the radius of V²⁺ ion is smaller than that of Cd²⁺ ion or larger than that of Mg²⁺ ion. Moreover, the relationships between EPR parameter D and local structure parameters (R, θ) as well as the orbital reduction factor k and g‐factors (g_‖, g_⊥) are discussed.     

Study of EPR parameters and defect structure for two tetragonal impurity centers in MgO:Cr<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and MgO:Mn<Superscript>4+</Superscript> crystals

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g-factors g _‖, g _⊥ and zero-field splitting D) of two tetragonal 3d³ impurity centers M_3d-V_Mg and M_3d-Li⁺ (where M_3d = Cr³⁺ or Mn⁴⁺, V_Mg is the Mg²⁺ vacancy) in M_3d-doped MgO crystals are calculated from the high-order perturbation formulas including both the crystal-field (CF) and the charge-transfer (CT) mechanisms for 3d³ ions in the tetragonal symmetry. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. From the calculations, it can be found that the relative importance of the CT mechanism for EPR parameters increases with increasing valence state of the 3d³ ion. So, for the high-valence 3d ⁿ ions in crystals, a reasonable explanation of EPR parameters should take into account both CF and CT mechanisms. The defect structures (characterized by the displacement ΔR of O²⁻ in the intervening M_3d and V_Mg or Li⁺ at the Mg²⁺ site) for these tetragonal impurity centers are obtained from the calculations. The results are consistent with the expectations based on the electrostatic interactions.     

Spin Hamiltonian parameters and local structures for tetragonal and orthorhombic Ir2+ centers in AgCl

The perturbation formulae of the spin Hamiltonian parameters (the anisotropic g factors, hyperfine structure constants and superhyperfine parameters) are established for a 5d⁷ ion in an orthorhombically elongated octahedron based on the cluster approach. These formulae are applied to the theoretical studies of the EPR spectra and the local structures for the tetragonal and orthorhombic Ir²⁺ centers in AgCl. For the tetragonal Ir²⁺ center, the uncompensated substitutional [IrCl₆]⁴ cluster is found to experience a relative elongation of about 0.08 Å along the C ₄ axis due to the Jahn–Teller effect. For the orthorhombic center, the ligand octahedron also suffers Jahn–Teller elongation (by about 0.08 Å) along the [001] (or Z) axis. Meanwhile, the ligand Cl intervening in the impurity Ir²⁺ and the next nearest neighbor silver vacancy V_Ag along the [100] (or X) axis may undergo an inward displacement of 0.004 Å towards the center of the octahedron due to electrostatic repulsion of the V_Ag. The calculated spin Hamiltonian parameters based on the above local structures show good agreement with experimental data for both centers.     

Local structure distortion and spin Hamiltonian parameters for Cr3＋-Vzn tetragonal defect centre in Cr3＋ doped KZnF3 crystal

The quantitative relationship between the spin Hamiltonian parameters (D, g_‖, Δg) and the crystal structure parameters for the Cr³⁺—V_Zn tetragonal defect centre in a Cr³⁺:KZnF₃ crystal is established by using the superposition model. On the above basis, the local structure distortion and the spin Hamiltonian parameter for the Cr³⁺—V_Zn tetragonal defect centre in the KZnF_3 crystal are systematically investigated using the complete diagonalization method. It is found that the V_Zn vacancy and the differences in mass, radius and charge between the Cr³⁺ and the Zn²⁺ ions induce the local lattice distortion of the Cr³⁺ centre ions in the KZnF₃ crystal. The local lattice distortion is shown to give rise to the tetragonal crystal field, which in turn results in the tetragonal zero-field splitting parameter D and the anisotropic g factor Δg. We find that the ligand F^- ion along [001] and the other five F^- ions move towards the central Cr³⁺ by distances of Δ₁ = 0.0121 nm and Δ₂ = 0.0026 nm, respectively. Our approach takes into account the spin—orbit interaction as well as the spin—spin, spin—other-orbit, and orbit—orbit interactions omitted in the previous studies. It is found that for the Cr³⁺ ions in the Cr³⁺:KZnF₃ crystal, although the spin—orbit mechanism is the most important one, the contribution to the spin Hamiltonian parameters from the other three mechanisms, including spin—spin, spin—other-orbit, and orbit—orbit magnetic interactions, is appreciable and should not be omitted, especially for the zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter D.     

Spin-Hamiltonian parameters and tetragonal distortion due to the Jahn–Teller effect for Cu2+ centres in trigonal Zn(BrO3)·6H2O crystal

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors g_//, g_⊥ and hyperfine structure constants ⁶⁵A_// and ⁶⁵A_⊥) for the tetragonal Cu²⁺ centres in trigonal Zn(BrO₃)·6H₂O crystal are calculated from the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method (CDM) based on the cluster approach. In the CDM, the Zeeman and hyperfine interaction terms are added to the Hamiltonian in the conventional CDM and the contributions to the spin-Hamiltonian parameters from both the spin-orbit coupling parameter of central d⁹ ion and that of ligand ion are included. The calculated spin-Hamiltonian parameters of Zn(BrO₃)·6H₂O: Cu²⁺ show good agreement with the experimental values and the tetragonal elongation (characterized by ΔR=R_// ? R _⊥, where R_// and R _⊥ represent the metal-ligand distances parallel with and perpendicular to the C₄ axis) due to the static Jahn–Teller effect is obtained from the calculations. The results are discussed.     

Defect structure of Cu2+ center in K2SO4‒Na2SO4‒ZnSO4 glasses

The spin Hamiltonian parameters (g factors g _//, g _⊥ and hyperfine structure constants A _//, A _⊥) of Cu²⁺ in K₂SO₄?Na₂SO₄?ZnSO₄ glasses are calculated from the high-order perturbation formulas of 3d⁹ ion in tetragonal octahedral sites. The calculated results are in agreement with the observed values. Since the EPR parameters are sensitive to the local structure of a paramagnetic impurity center, the defect structure of Cu²⁺ center in K₂SO₄?Na₂SO₄?ZnSO₄ glasses is estimated. The validity of results is discussed.     

Local defect structures and EPR studies on (FeO6)9− and (FeO4)5− clusters in YGG: Fe3+ system

The octahedral (FeO₆)^9? and tetrahedral (FeO₄)^5? clusters in yttrium gallium garnet (YGG): Fe³⁺ system are investigated based on the 252 × 252 complete energy matrices for d⁵ configuration ions in trigonal and tetragonal ligand fields, moreover, the EPR and optical spectra are made unified calculation. The results indicate that the defect structures around Fe³⁺ centres display expansion effects at different temperatures 4.2 and 295 K, and which are close to those in YIG garnet, respectively. Simultaneously, the defect structure parameters for Fe³⁺ centres in YGG are determined, and the relationship between the defect structure and the temperature has been discussed.     

Investigations of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters for Er3+ ions in AlN crystal

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factor g _//, g _⊥ and hyperfine structure constants A _//, A _⊥) for Er³⁺ ion at the trigonal Al³⁺ site of AlN crystal are calculated by diagonalising the 52 × 52 energy matrix. The matrix are related to the ground mutiplet ⁴I_15/2 and the first to third excited multiplets ⁴I_13/2, ⁴I_11/2 and ⁴I_9/2 for 4f¹¹ ions in trigonal crystal field under an external magnetic field. The crystal-field parameters used in the matrix are obtained from the superposition model and the local lattice relaxation due to the substitution of Er³⁺ for Al³⁺ is considered. The calculated spin-Hamiltonian parameters are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values and the signs of hyperfine structure constants are suggested. The results are discussed.