Bridgman growth and laser excitation of LiYF4 : Sm3+

We report on the Bridgman-Stockbarger growth of LiYF4 crystals doped with t rivalent samarium ions. As the Sm3+ ions substitute for Y3+ ions in the LiY F4 matrix and in the absence of significant F- anion vacancies, only the tr ivalent samarium ion species is present. Attempts to grow KxLi(1-x)Y(1-y)Sm yF4 have not been successful due to rejection of KF at the melt-crystal int erface. Optical absorption and laser selective excitation reveals the prese nce of a single Sm3+ ion centre of S-4 symmetry. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.