ANISOTROPY OF OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF SRLAALO4 AND SRLAA1O(4)ND

Single crystals of SrLaAlO4 and SrLaAlO4:Nd have been grown by the Czo chralski method and their optical properties have been studied in pola rized light. The crystals are positive uniaxial, and their birefringen ce is stable with respect to temperature in the 290 K-520 K temperatur e region. Undoped crystal is transparent from 240 nm to 7.6 mu m. Inte nsities of absorption and spontaneous emission of Nd3+ are slightly lo wer for light polarized perpendicular than those for light polarized p arallel to the optical axis. Laser action in SrLaAlO4:Nd has been obta ined for the first time using a diode laser as a pump. Stimulated emis sion occurs in the 1073 nm-1080 nm spectral region. Poor laser perform ance is attributed to the self-quenching of Nd emission.