Growth and spectroscopic properties of Nd 3+-doped Na 2Gd 4(MoO 4) 7 crystal

Abstract

This paper reports the growth and spectral properties of Nd 3+:Na 2Gd 4(MoO 4) 7 crystals. An Nd 3+:Na 2Gd 4(MoO 4) 7 crystal with dimensions of Ø20 × 25 mm 3 has been grown by the Czochralski method. The spectroscopic properties of Nd 3+:Na 2Gd 4(MoO 4) 7 crystal were investigated. The Judd–Ofelt theory was applied to calculate the spectral parameters. The polarized absorption cross-sections of Nd 3+:Na 2Gd 4(MoO 4) 7 crystal are 4.25 × 10 −20 cm 2 with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 14.6 nm for the π-polarization and 2.87 × 10 −20 cm 2 with FWHM of 16.2 nm for the σ-polarization, respectively. The emission cross-sections are 10.0 × 10 −20 cm 2 at 1060 nm for π-polarization and 13.6 × 10 −20 cm 2 at 1067 nm for σ-polarization, respectively. The fluorescence quantum efficiency has been estimated to be 90.0%. Nd 3+:Na 2Gd 4(MoO 4) 7 crystal may be considered as a potential laser gain medium for the diode laser pumping.