Optical spectroscopy of Nd3+ ions in GdXY1-XAl3(BO3)(4)

In this work, the optical spectroscopy (absorption and luminescence) of a n ew Nd3+ activated non-linear crystal, GdXY1-xAl3(BO3)(4), with x=0.25, has been investigated. The crystal structure of this system is quite similar to that of one of the best self frequency doubling crystals, YAl3(BO3)(4) (YA B). Results show absorption bands very similar, but broader than those obse rved in Nd:YAB. This suggests the possibility of two non-equivalent environ ments for the Nd3+ ions, corresponding to the replacement of Y3+ and Gd3+ l attice sites. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.