LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Paramagnetic Resonance and Optical Absorption of Irradiated CaF2: Ho

It was shown that trivalent holmium ions at cubic lattice sites in CaF/ sub 2/ trap electrons when the crystals are exposed to ionizing radiations at room temperatures and at low temperatures. After irradiation of the crystals with 50 kv x rays, an isotropic electron spin resonance spectrum was observed at 4 un. Concent 85% K with an intense eight-line hyperfine structure arising from DELTA m/sub I/ = O transitions and a weaker structure arising from DELTA m/sub I./ = 450 deg C in a 1 transition. The spectrum arises from doubly ionized Ho/ sup 165/ on cubic lattice sites that result from the capture of electrons by Ho/ sup 3+/ ions, (C.E.S.)