Polarization selection rules for the allowed optical transitions in europium–terbium double activated calcium tungstate phosphor

The paper is devoted to the problem of the optical anisotropy of the rare-earth ions occupying low-symmetry positions in crystals. The crystal field multiplets arising from LSJ terms of Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions in the crystal field of calcium tungstate scheelite (CaWO4) are analyzed (S4 point symmetry). The selection rules, in particular, polarization rules for the allowed electric dipole optical transitions in the electronic shells of the Eu3+ and Tb3+ in CaWO4 host lattice are discussed. Special attention is paid to the study of the angular (polarization) dependence of the two-photon absorption that seems to be an effective tool for the understanding of the complicated optical pattern. The peculiarities of the anisotropy of the two-photon absorption prove to be specific for each allowed dipole transition in S4 symmetry center.