SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF LN(2)CA(3)B(4)O(12)-ND3+ (LN = Y, LA, GD) CRYSTALS

In this work, the neodymium doped double berate single crystals Ln(2)C a(3)B(4)O(12)-Nd (Ln=La, Gd, Y) were Czochralsky grown. Their structur e, spectroscopic characteristics, and lifetimes were studied. The dist ribution coefficients of neodymium ions into the berate lattice Ln(2)C a(3)B(4)O(12)-Nd (Ln=La, Gd, Y) were determined. They are close to 1 a nd slightly increase in the series La, Gd, Y in accordance with the ch ange in the melting temperature. Using the Judd-Ofelt method we determ ined the intensity parameters: Ohm(2)=4.56x10(-20) cm(2) and 4.59X10(- 20) cm(2); Ohm(4)=7.29X10(-20) cm(2) and 7.56X10(-20) cm(2), and Ohm(6 )=9.87X10(-20) cm(2) and 10.76x10(-20) cm(2) for La2Ca3B4O12-Nd and Gd 2Ca3B4O12-Nd, respectively,. The microparameters and selfquenching rat e in the La2Ca3B4O12-Nd and Gd2Ca3B4O12-Nd crystals were calculated. I t was shown that the neodymium selfquenching could be described within the framework of the static model, which, probably, corresponds to th e structural properties. The possible application of the studied cryst als as active laser media, including also the laser-diode pumped ones was concluded. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science BN.