GROWTH AND OPTICAL STUDY OF NEODYMIUM-DOPED LAGAO3 CRYSTAL

Single crystals of neodymium doped LaGaO3 were grown by the Czochralsk i method in a nitrogen atmosphere. Low and high temperature preliminar y studies of the optical absorption of neodymium doped LaGaO3 crystal are presented. The measured oscillator strengths of the transitions be tween the J manifolds at 300 K are compared with those derived from th e Judd-Ofelt theory. The radiative transition rates and radiative life time of F-4(3/2) level have been calculated (232 mu s). Luminescence s pectra were measured at 300 and 5 K. The strongest emission bands have been attributed to F-4(3/2)-->I-4(9/2) and F-4(3/2)-->I-4(11/2) trans itions. Low temperature measurements allowed us to estimate the energy levels of Nd3+ ion in this matrix. It is supposed that neodymium dope d LaGaO3 can be a promising material working in the three-levels schem e. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.