Growth, thermal and spectroscopic characteristics of Nd3+ : LiGd(MoO4)2 crystal

Abstract

The crystal growth and thermal and polarized spectroscopic characteristics of Nd3+ : LiGd(MoO4)2 crystal have been investigated. The specific heat at 330 K is 0.44 J g−1 K−1. The thermal expansion coefficients for c- and a-axes are 14.2 × 10−6 °C−1 and 18.4 × 10−6 °C−1, respectively. The absorption cross sections are 1.35 and 4.51 × 10−20 cm2 at around 804 nm with full-widths at half-maximum of 7.1 and 8.9 nm for σ-polarization and π-polarization, respectively; the emission cross section is 0.745 and 1.116 × 10−19 cm2 at 1069.5 nm for σ-polarization and at 1063.0 nm for π-polarization, respectively. Based on Judd–Ofelt theory, the spectral parameters of Nd3+ : LiGd(MoO4)2 crystal have been calculated. The intensity parameters Ωλ obtained are Ω2 = 18.70 × 10−20 cm2, Ω4 = 7.14 × 10−20 cm2, Ω6 = 5.61 × 10−20 cm2. The radiative and fluorescence lifetimes are 155 µs and 131 µs, respectively. The quantum efficiency η is 87.74%.