Vibration and Luminescence Spectroscopic Investigations of the Alkali Rare Earth Double Phosphates M$\text{}_{3}$(RE,Eu)(PO$\text{}_{4}$)$\text{}_{2}$ (M=K, Rb; RE=La, Gd)

The room temperature IR- and Raman spectra of the different M$\text{}_{3}$RE(PO$\text{}_{4}$)$\text{}_{2}$ (M = K, Rb; RE = La, Eu, Gd) double phosphates were analysed and used to interpret the vibronic side band structure in the photoluminescence spectra. The intraconfigurational 4f-4f electronic transitions in the photoluminescence spectra of the Eu$\text{}^{3+}$ doped M$\text{}_{3}$RE(PO$\text{}_{4}$)$\text{}_{2}$ were analysed in detail. The crystal field fine structure of the $\text{}^{5}$D$\text{}_{0}$ → $\text{}^{7}$F$\text{}_{J}$ (J=0-4) transitions was analysed accounting for the information on the crystal structure. The effect of the temperature as well as the alkali host cation was evaluated. Finally, a preliminary crystal field energy level scheme for the $\text{}^{7}$F$\text{}_{J}$ (J=0-4) ground term was deduced from the analysis of the photo-luminescence as well as IR- and Raman spectra.