Raman spectra of polycrystalline SmBr3 and single crystal NdBr3

Abstract Raman spectra of polycrystalline NdBr3 and SmBr3 were recorded at room temperature and pressure and polarized Raman spectra of single crystal NdBr3 were also measured. Based on these polarized spectra, symmetry assignments of eight Raman‐active modes were made. The assignments are useful in interpreting the phonon Raman spectra of these and other compounds which exhibit the PuBr3‐type orthorhombic structure and in identifying this structure type quickly by Raman spectroscopy.