Theoretical investigations of the specific heat functions for the orthorhombic Nd+3 centers in some crystals

Garnets doped with Nd+3 have attracted extensive interests because of their applications in solid-state lasers, as well as upconversion luminescence and magneto-optical and magnetic properties. Usually, these properties are closely related to the local structures and properties of the Nd+3 impurities in the hosts. Since information about electronic states and local structures of the impurity Nd+3 in the garnets would be helpful to the understanding of the properties of these materials, theoretical investigations on the specific heat functions and the local structures for these Nd+3 centers are of significance.