HOST DEPENDENCE OF THE OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF ND3-TYPE CRYSTALS YMO4 (M=V,P,AS)( IONS IN ZIRCON)

The optical properties of good optical quality Nd:YMO4 (M = V, P, As) single crystals, grown by the flux method were studied with particular attention to the broadening of the absorption transition around 810 n m, where these materials are usually diode-pumped for laser applicatio ns. A similar broadening is measured in the three zircon-type hosts an d this could be explained by a thermal population of the I-4(9/2) subl evels at room temperature. Low-temperature X-band ESR measurements of Nd3+ in the YMO4 family show a strong dependence of the main-site g va lues upon the type of [MO4] tetrahedra.