Optical absorption of Er³⁺ ion in Er(NO₃)₃·5H₂O, NH₄NO₃, Mg(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, KNO₃ and NaNO₃ complexes has been studied. The second derivative spectra of these Er³⁺ complexes exhibited splittings in the⁴I_9/2,⁴F_9/2,⁴F_7/2,⁴F_5/2 and²H_9/2 levels. These splittings have been tentatively explained as due to a cubic crystalline field. The partial derivatives for Er³⁺ ion have been calculated in terms of Racah (E^k) parameters. The results of a least squares fit of the energy levels and oscillator strengths of the bands are reported in terms of interaction parameters and Judd-Ofelt parameters. Radiative transition probabilities for various fluorescence levels are theoretically estimated. The lifetime of the⁴G_11/2 level is found to be lowest in all nitrate complexes.

Spectroscopic properties of Er³⁺:CBS (CdSO₄+B₂O₃ and R₂SO₄+CdSO₄+B₂O₃, R₂SO₄=Li₂SO₄.H₂O, Na₂SO₄, K₂SO₄ and Gd₂(SO₄)₃.8H₂O) glasses are reported. The assigned energy level data of Er³⁺(4f¹¹) in these glasses are analysed in terms of a parametrized model Hamiltonian. The standard deviations of the data fits are between 39 and 47 cm⁻¹ so that the energy level schemes of the Er³⁺(4f¹¹) ions in borosulphate (CBS) glasses are reasonably well reproduced. Radiative properties for the fluorescent levels of Er³⁺:CBS glasses are determined by using the Judd-Ofelt theory. The potential laser transitions are identified with the help of predicted radiative properties which are compared and discussed with similar results.