Crystal growth of La-2(WO4)(3)

Pure and Nd3+-doped single crystals of La-2(WO4)(3) measuring 35 mm diamete r x 15 mm thickness have been grown from the stoichiometric melt by a top-s eeded slow cooling method. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray di ffraction (XRD) confirmed that there was no high-temperature phase modifica tion for La-2(WO4)(3). The fast growth rate of high-quality crystals and ex cellent mechanical and thermal properties make this material of commercial importance for many applications including stimulated Raman scattering (SRS ) and self-converting lasers. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.