LASER-HEATED PEDESTAL GROWTH AND OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF ND3-DOPED LI-1-XNB1-XWXO3 SINGLE-CRYSTAL FIBERS()

Single-crystal fibers are obtained from the Li1-xNb1-xWxO3 solid solut ion with x up to 0.5%. Spectroscopic investigations of Nd3+-doped fibe rs are given at room and liquid helium temperatures, leading to the de termination of the branching ratio (0.505) and the stimulated emission cross-sections of the F-4(3/2) --> I-4(11/2) transition in pi and sig ma polarizations, and to evidence a distribution of non-equivalent Nd3 + centers. These fibers are potential candidates as self-doubling lase r materials in both birefringent-phase-matching and quasi-phase-matchi ng configurations.