Crystal growth and optical assessment of Nd 3+ : GdAl 3(BO 3) 4 crystal

Abstract

This paper reports the high-temperature top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) of large single crystal of Nd 3+-doped GdAl 3(BO 3) 4 from a K 2Mo 3O 10-LiF flux cooled at a rate of 2 K/day and using a crystal rotation rate of 4.5 rpm. The polarized optical absorption and fluorescence spectra of Nd 3+ : GdAl 3(BO 3) 4 crystal have been investigated. Polarized absorption cross sections are 4.3×10 −20 and 2.6×10 −20 cm 2 with band widths of 8.7 and 6.1 nm for σ- and π-polarization, respectively. The emission cross sections are 6.3×10 −19 and 6.0×10 −19 cm 2 for σ- and π-polarization, respectively, at 1062 nm corresponding to the 4F 3/2→ 4I 11/2 transition. The fluorescence lifetime is 54.3 and 57 μs at 300 and 20 K, respectively.