Information on the energy of $5d$ levels of ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ in chloride, bromide, and iodide compounds has been collected. From this, values for the centroid shift and the crystal field splitting of the $5d$ configuration are obtained. The centroid shift will be related to the polarizability of the anions and further analyzed by means of the ligand polarization model. The crystal field splitting is to a large extent determined by the shape and size of the anion polyhedron coordinating ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}.$ It will be analyzed in terms of the crystal field $B_q^k$ parameters. By combining centroid shift and crystal field splitting, the spectroscopic redshift of the first electric dipole-allowed $\mathrm{fd}$ transition in ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}-\mathrm{doped}$ halide compounds will be interpreted. The observed trends provide insights into the relationship between the spectroscopic properties of ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ $5d$ levels and the crystalline environment.

• Received 28 June 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.62.15650