The
4f↔5d absorption and emission spectra of
Ce3+-doped YAG
(Y3Al5O12) are simulated with a quantum chemical
ab initio embedded cluster approach applied to
Ce3+ substitutional defects of
D2 local symmetry. The only empirical information used is the structure of the pure host. The simulated absorption spectrum is calculated with overestimations of 2300–
![View the MathML source View the MathML source](http://www.sciencedirect.com/cache/MiamiImageURL/B6TJH-4RC6RFD-4-2G/0?wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkzV)
, which became
![View the MathML source View the MathML source](http://www.sciencedirect.com/cache/MiamiImageURL/B6TJH-4RC6RFD-4-2H/0?wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkzV)
in the luminescence. The three
4f→5d observed absorptions were assigned and the energies of the two remaining ones, which are hidden by the absorption of the pure host, were predicted. The lowest
5d→4f emission was found to take place from
Γ5 (
22A) and the next emission from
Γ5 (
32B3). Good absorption and emission band shapes and relative intensities are obtained. A large underestimation of the Stokes shift is found, which suggests an underestimation of the relaxation on the emitting state.