Magneto-optical spectroscopy and optical detection of EPR spectra of Yb$^{3+}$ paramagnetic centers with cubic symmetry in single crystals MeF$_2$ (Me = Cd, Ca, Pb)

Cubic paramagnetic centers formed by Yb$^{3+}$ impurity ions in fluorite-type crystals MeF$_2$ (Me = Cd, Ca, Pb) have been investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance, magnetic circular dichroism, magnetic circular polarization of luminescence, Zeeman splitting of optical absorption and luminescence lines, and optical detection of electron paramagnetic resonance. The $g$ factors of the $^2\Gamma_7$ state in the excited multiplet $^2F_{5/2}$ of Yb$^{3+}$ ions in MeF$_2$ crystals, the hyperfine interaction constant $^{171}A$ ($^{171}$Yb) for the excited multiplet $^2F_{5/2}$ in the CaF$_2$ crystal, and the energies and symmetry properties of all energy levels of Yb$^{3+}$ ions in MeF$_2$ crystals are determined. The crystal-field parameters for the crystals under investigation are calculated.