A study of the white lines associated with the rare-earth lii and liii absorption discontinuities in some oxides and tungstates

Abstract

The intensities are studied of the white lines associated with the L,, and LllI absorption discontinuities of the rare earth elements in their oxides RE sub(2)O sub(3) (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) and some tungstates RE sub(2)(WO sub(4)) sub(3) (RE = La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy). These white lines correspond to the absorption transitions from the 2p sub(1/2) to the 5d sub(3/2) and from the 2p sub(3/2) to the 5d sub(5/2) levels. It is observed that the intensities of the white lines depend upon the filling of the 4f levels, which partially overlap the 5d levels.