Any electronic eigenstate of the paramagnetic ion open-shell is characterized by the three independent multipole asphericities for and 6 related to the second moments of the relevant crystal-field splittings by , where . The A<sub>k</sub> as the reduced matrix elements can serve as a reliable measure of the state capability for the splitting produced by the k-rank component of the crystal-field Hamiltonian. These multipolar characteristics allow one to verify any fitted crystal-field parameter set by comparing the calculated second moments and the experimental ones of the relevant crystal-field splittings. We present the multipole characteristics A<sub>k</sub> for the extensive set of eigenstates from the lower parts of energy spectra of the tripositive 4 f <sup>N</sup> ions applying in the calculations the improved eigenfunctions of the free lanthanide ions obtained based on the M. Reid f-shell programs. Such amended asphericities are compared with those achieved for the simplified Russell-Saunders states. Next, they are classified with respect to the absolute or relative weight of A<sub>k</sub> in the multipole structure of the considered states. For the majority of the analyzed states (about 80%) the A<sub>k</sub> variation is of order of only a few percent. Some essential changes are found primarily for several states of Tm<sup>3+</sup>, Er<sup>3+</sup>, Nd<sup>3+</sup>, and Pr<sup>3+</sup> ions. The detailed mechanisms of such A<sub>k</sub> changes are unveiled. Particularly, certain noteworthy cancelations as well as enhancements of their magnitudes are explained.
The spherical tensor operators in the one-electron crystal-field (CF) Hamiltonian written as
[
is concerned exclusively with the intrinsic properties of the central ion electronic eigenstate. The reduced (double bar) matrix elements is defined by [1-5]
where the factor preceding the matrix element is the reciprocal of the 3-j symbol [1-5]. The reduced matrix element is independent of the reference frame orientation and hence also of. The diagonal reduced elements represent the 2k-pole asphericities (for and 6) of the considered electronic state [
The k-rank multipole moment of an electronic eigenstate which is a superposition of the RS states with various L and S but the same J can be evaluated based on the reduced matrix element of the respective k-rank spherical tensor operator. According to the Wigner-Eckart theorem [5,15] such quantity is independent of the reference frame orientation and adequately expresses the 2k-pole type asphericity of the given eigenstate. For the spherical electronic density distribution the matrix element identically vanishes for and 6. It plays also a crucial role as a scaling factor in the CF Hamiltonian interaction matrices and hence participates in both the calculational and fitting CFP procedures. In the case of J-mixing approach, i.e. for fixed J, the reduced matrix element can be expressed by the sum of all diagonal and off-diagonal matrix elements occurring in the expansion [1,5,16]
where the first factor on the right side, defining the sign of the reduced element, depends on the parity of the sum of four numbers, which are in principle autonomous, what leads to the sign randomness. The second factor stands for the degeneracy of the state, the third one is the 6-j symbol revealing what part of the final function belongs to the orbital part [
The quantum numbers and the q index do not appear in Equation (2) (compare with Equation (1)). It clearly shows that the reduced matrix elements and in consequence the are independent of the reference frame choice. Any element of the expansion includes additionally the product of amplitudes of the two involved components in the superposition together with their signs. The reduced matrix element (Equation (2)) differs from zero only for the same S quantum number (in the bra and ket) since act exclusively on the configurational coordinates of the electrons, and for the states of the same parity L and L'. These requirements reduce the number of the non-zero off-diagonal matrix elements between various components of the J-mixed eigenfunctions.
Such multipole characteristics have been evaluated earlier for the pure (one-component) RS open-shell electronic eigenstates [
eigenstates obtained in the more accurate J-mixing approach based on the M. Reid f-shell programs [
In total, we have taken into account 105 lower lying eigenstates of the three-valent RE ions from Ce3+ () up to Yb3+ ().
There exist the following J-mixing mechanisms that produce the observed changes in the asphericity of the states. Firstly, the normalization of any superposition of states reduces naturally the upper state amplitude, whereas its square determines the upper state asphericity input. Secondly, additional diagonal and off-diagonal terms in the the matrix element expansion differ in magnitudes and signs. The sign of each individual diagonal term is specified exclusively by the sign of the respective on the involved component. Its magnitude, however, comes from the product of and the square of the component amplitude in the superposition. In turn, any off-diagonal term is a product of 6 factors including two involved amplitudes (Equation (2)).
Its sign results from the product of 6 signs, and is in principle accidental. To cope with this matter effectively one should consider all the additional diagonal and offdiagonal contributions along with their various possible magnitudes and signs. Based on these investigations four types of the resultant Ak modifications can be noticed in
· Due to insignificant J-mixing admixtures to the upper state only small changes (within a few percent) arise in the pertinent, which are the algebraic sum of the normalization effect and the additional diagonal and off-diagonal corrections. Such effect occurs for about 80% of the states listed in
· The sum of the corrections is substantial with respect to Ak of the upper state and has the same sign as the Ak. Here an enhancement of occurs. Such resultant effect is observed for the states: 13th of Nd3+, 7th of Er3+, 6th, 7th and 12th of Tm3+ in the case of, for the states: 6th of Pr3+, 3rd and 4th of Dy3+, and 2nd of Tm3+ in the case of, and for the 4th state of Tm3+ in the case of.
· The sum of the corrections is substantial but with the opposite sign than that of the upper state Ak. In this case a partial compensation of (including the complete cancelation), or even the sign conversion of, takes place. Such result has been found in the case of for the states: 6th and 7th of Pr3+, 7th, 10th and 11th of Nd3+, 6th of Ho3+, 3rd, 4th and 5th of Er3+, 2nd, 4th and 8th of Tm3+, in the case of for the states: 7th and 8th of Pr3+, 7th, 10th and 11th of Nd3+, 4th, 5th and 7th of Er3+, 4th, 6th and 7th of Tm3+, and in the case of for the states: 1st, 6th and 7th of Pr3+, 7th, 10th, 11th and 13th of Nd3+, 3rd and 4th of Dy3+, 6th of Ho3+, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th of Er3+, 2nd and 7th of Tm3+.
· The corrections generate the only contribution to Ak that for the initial state is equal to zero. It takes place for the states 12th of Pr3+ (), 9th of Nd3+ (), 7th of Ho3+ (,), 6th of Er3+ (), 8th and 12th of Tm3+ ().
The detailed mechanisms of the asphericity modifications induced by the J-mixing effect will be thoroughly analyzed for some representative examples in Section 6.
The asphericity Ak for and 6 of any electronic state may serve as a reliable measure of its capability for CF splitting produced by the—the k-th component of the. It stems from the fundamental relationship between the CF splitting second moment and the Ak [10,13,14]
where is the square of the CF strength of the 2k-pole component [9-12], and is the degeneracy of the given state with a good quantum number J. In fact, the above relationship (Equation (3)) arises from the spherical harmonic addition theorem [
As it is seen from Equation (3) the asphericity Ak can be treated as a potential capability of the considered state for the 2k-pole CF splitting since the second factor Sk represents a separate and unrelated external impact. The Ak can be either positive or negative (Section 2) what symbolically may be imagined as asphericities of convex or concave type. The Ak sign does not affect the, but is crucial calculating the resultant asphericities of the superposition of states.
The question arises how the global second moment can be expressed by means of the asphericities of the involved electron eigenstate. As it is known, the square of the global second moment is a simple sum of the second moment squares of the individual components [6,10,13,14,20].
To describe it is convenient to introduce two auxiliary vectors: and within the three-dimensional orthogonal reference frame based on the Ak (or Sk) axes. Then, is defined by their scalar product. All the components of the A and S vectors are positive by definition and can be expressed by the spherical angular coordinates only within the ranges of and. Equation (4) shows that the CF splitting is determined by the two inseparable mutually entangled quantities Ak and Sk. The figurative vectors A and S may be orthogonal, what happens when both the vectors lie either along the two frame axes or one of them lies along an axis whereas the second belongs to the perpendicular plane. Then, always, in spite of some non-zero Ak and Sk. Simultaneously, Equation (4) enables us to critically verify the meaning of such quantities like and [
Similarly to the approximated RS states of triply ionized lanthanides [
The highest total asphericities (the top A values), which represent the strongest total capabilities for the CF splitting, are found in the states with large L (and J) quantum numbers (
Tables 1-6 indicate an evident correspondence between the calculated Ak for the pairs of the lanthanide ions with the complementary electron configurations and: (Ce3+, Yb3+), (Pr3+, Tm3+), (Nd3+, Er3+), (Pm3+, Ho3+), (Sm3+, Dy3+) and (Eu3+, Tb3+). The opposite Ak sign of the pair-partners results from the opposite sign of the related matrix elements of the operators [
The difference between the bottom parts of the energy diagrams of Pr3+ and Tm3+ ions serves as a good example of such case. In the energy spectrum of Pr3+ ion the RS states and interacting via J-mixing are located one to another as far as possible: the is the lowest state of the term, whereas the the highest one of the term. In Tm3+ ion, in the reverse order, the is the highest state of the term, whereas the the lowest state of the term. In fact, the state lies below the state [
Equations (3) and (4) reveal the direct relationship between the CF splitting second moments (and) available from the experimentally fitted splitting diagrams, and the relevant Ak and Sk in the form of their products. Having known the capabilities Ak one gets the Sk which are consistent with the experimental data. Thus, we have an additional condition imposed on the CFPs for each individual multipole, i.e. for CFPs with a fixed k index. Therefore any correct fitting procedure must lead to CFPs obeying Equations (3) and (4). To fully realize the significance of the above defined capability of electronic states for CF splitting and its indispensability in practical CF calculations let us verify, as an example, the parametrization of the CF Hamiltonian for eight lower lying electronic states of Tm3+ ion doped into single crystal (C2 sites) of cubic yttrium oxide Y2O3 [
Based on
By definition, only positive solution is admitted, what is rather a strong requirement. For the corrected Tm3+ free-ion eigenstates we have found the proper solution of (Equation (5)). By means of the least square deviations Gauss method we have obtained in [(cm–1)2]:, , and. The second moments calculated for these values of Sk are: 70120, 36440, 45280, 30170, 3715, 13060, 84940 and 13740, respectively. Taking into account all possible inaccuracies in the estimated and in the calculated, as well as their wide ranges of variation, the presented calculations reproduce the observed quite accurately.
The role of the capabilities in the approach is readable. It is proper to add that there is no solution of Equation (5) in the case of for the pure RS eigenstates of Tm3+ ion.
The presented example highlights the additivity principle which ensures the appropriate multipole moments yielded by the surroundings of Tm3+ ion in Y2O3 crystal lattice. Additionally, it evidences a good quality fitting of the CF levels given in [
The CFPs for Tm3+:Y2O3 given in
Similar breaking of the multipolar additivity of, calculated from the fitted parametrization of the corresponding CF Hamiltonian, has been evidenced previously for Nd3+:Y2O3 [
The calculated asphericities of the trivalent ions are not the actual ones due to approximate nature of the applied eigenfunctions, but their reliability can be improved replacing the initial functions (e.g. those of the RS type) by their various superpositions. In the case of simultaneous diagonalisation of the interaction matrix including the Coulomb repulsion and the spin-orbit coupling these are the superpositions of the RS functions with the same J but different L and S quantum numbers [
Let us consider the 6th state of Pr3+ ion (
with the dominant component. The diagonal contributions to the amount to:
,
,
and the only off-diagonal input
.
The accumulation of the three negative corrections reduces the from 0.4672 down to 0.2439. The diagonal contributions to the are negative and reach:
,
,
and the off-diagonal element
.
Here, the strong diagonal input of the determines the magnitude and sign of the. In turn, the diagonal contributions to the are equal to:
,
,
and the off-diagonal input is
.
Again, as above, the diagonal negative input of the dominates and the ultimate results from a partial compensation of all the contributions.
The 7th state of Nd3+ ion, is composed of
with the prevailing state. All the weak diagonal contributions to the are almost compensated achieving in sum 0.0092 with respect to the dominant state input. The decisive are the positive off-diagonal terms
along with
giving finally the. Here, the dominant state input to the A4 amounts to and the sum of all the seven diagonal elements 0.1675 is somewhat less. In this situation the relatively large and negative off-diagonal element
decides both on the magnitude and sign of the A4 = –0.0638. Similarly, for the very small positive sum of the partial diagonal elements, the final A6 = –0.0732 is determined by the prevailing, as for the modulus, negative off-diagonal element
.
The 11th state of the Nd3+, is given by
with the dominant component. The sum of the diagonal contributions to the A2 is –0.0740, including the input –0.0632 from the. The resultant is the outcome of mutual competition of the positive off-diagonal term given by
and the negative diagonal contribution coming mainly from the state. The sum of the diagonal elements combining to the A4 amounts to 0.4454 and is close to the contribution of the dominating state, i.e.. However, it is practically entirely compensated by the sum of two negative off-diagonal elements:
and
.
The resultant is determined by relatively strong off-diagonal input
All the diagonal elements contribute only –0.0081.
The J-mixing of the RS states can activate some idle states making them susceptible to CF splittings. In other words, they lose their initial effective spherical symmetry. As an example let us examine the 6th state od Er3+ ion consisting of
The prevailing element is characterized by zero asphericities, and. However, the corrected eigenstate acquires the asphericity by accumulation of the negative diagonal contributions:
,
,
and the off-diagonal ones:
,
The states and do not bring any diagonal inputs, and the state gives only 0.0005.
The ground state of Pr3+ ion is given by
and its A2 and A4 asphericities change only slightly with respect to the parameters for the pure state. However, the asphericity is noticeably reduced. The diagonal contribution of the state
and the off-diagonal term
weaken the positive input of the upper state down to the value of 0.6555. It corresponds to attenuation of the state capability for the CF splitting by. An increase in both the and admixtures deepen the tendency. It is worth to remember analyzing the CF splitting of the ion ground state.
As is seen in Equation (3) the multipole characteristics of the electron eigenstates along with their CF splitting diagrams sheds a new light on the crystal matrix multipole structure and vice versa. Based on the CF splitting diagrams for several electron eigenstates of known multipole characteristics in a specified crystal matrix (with a definite), as well as the CF splitting diagrams of a specified eigenstate in various CF matrices, we can reconcile the actual for the considered electronic states and the for the CF Hamiltonians, respectively. A great facilitation in such estimations is an incomplete multipolar structure of the analyzed eigenstates. Such incompleteness may result either from the triangle rule for J, J, k numbers (e.g. for and or and) or from accidental cancelation of some multipoles due to the J-mixing effect, as it is observed for the 11th state of Nd3+ and the 4th state of Er3+ ions in
In order to properly classify the multipolar characteristics of both the electronic eigenstates and the actual CF Hamiltonians we have to apply such kind of comprehensive reconciliations. The fitted CFP sets, that well reproduce the experimental spectrum of energy levels for intentionally approximated initial eigenfunctions, have by definition an effective character. Therefore, applying the same approximation for all eigenfunctions coming from different energy ranges will undoubtedly lead to errors. Presumably, this is the main reason for difficulties associated with minimization of rms deviations in fitted CFP sets. There are some phenomenological attempts to improve the fitting accuracy. In one of them the two-electron correlation CF is introduced, which may be simply expressed by an effective one-electron CF Hamiltonian being dependent on the considered electronic term. In another one the mean k powers of the unpaired electron radii is made variable with respect to the electron term [5,22-24]. Both the above approaches are formally admissible, but they can be physically ungrounded.
Yet another reflection arises. The dichotomic structure of the CF Hamiltonian [