Growth, refractive index and spectroscopic characteristic of Yb 3+:Ca 2La 2/3(VO 4) 2 crystal

Abstract

An Yb 3+:Ca 2La 2/3(VO 4) 2 crystal with dimensions of Ø18×30 mm 3 has been grown by the Czochralski method. The principal refractive indices of the Yb 3+:Ca 2La 2/3(VO 4) 2 crystal have been measured by the auto-collimation method. The experimentally obtained room temperature values of the refractive indices are: n o=1.8546, n e=1.8322 at the 1.064 μm wavelength. The specific heat of the Yb 3+:Ca 2La 2/3(VO 4) 2 crystals is 0.053 J/g K at 308 K. The hardness of the Yb 3+:Ca 2La 2/3(VO 4) 2 crystal is 946.1 VDH. Spectroscopic characterization of the Yb 3+:Ca 2La 2/3(VO 4) 2 crystal has been performed as well. The polarized absorption cross-sections are 2.05×10 −20 cm 2 for E∥ c and 2.47×10 −20 cm 2 for E⊥ c, respectively. The polarized emission cross-sections are 1.55×10 −20 cm 2 for E∥ c and 1.61×10 −20 cm 2 for E⊥ c, respectively. The Yb 3+:Ca 2La 2/3(VO 4) 2 crystal has a broad operating laser wavelength, which is useful for generating femtosecond pulses.