Single crystals of neodymium doped SrLaAlO4 have been grown by the Czo
chralski method and investigated using the methods of optical spectros
copy. Absorption band centered at 806nm is particularly intense in thi
s crystal and this feature seems to be advantageous for side pumping w
ith GaAlAs laser diode bars. Available spectroscopic data indicate tha
t excited states absorption might be of low importance in SrLaAlO4:Nd.