Bulk growth and polarized spectral characters of Nd:LaCa4O(BO3)3 crystals.

A bulk Nd:LaCa 4 O(BO 3) 3 (Nd:LaCOB) single crystal with the low Nd3+-doping concentration (~0.5 at%) was grown by Czochralski (Cz) method. Its powder X-ray diffraction, Nd3+ ions doping concentration, polarized transmittance and emission spectra, and fluorescence lifetimes were tested. Based on the Judd-Ofelt theory, the spectral parameters of Nd:LaCOB (Nd3+, ~0.5 at%) crystals including polarized absorption and emission cross sections, spontaneous transition probability, fluorescence branching ratio, theoretical fluorescence lifetime and intensity parameters (Ω 2 , Ω 4 and Ω 6) were systemically investigated. The calculated radiation lifetimes were compared with the experimental values, resulting in a quantum yield of 33%, which was the highest record among all the Nd:ReCOB (Re: Y, Gd, La 1−x Gd x) type crystals. The spectral properties of Nd:LaCOB were found to be better than those of Nd:YCOB and Nd:GdCOB crystals, especially in polarized absorption and emission cross sections. The self-frequency-doubling (SFD) angles were calculated according to the main fluorescence peaks of Nd:LaCOB (Nd3+, ~0.5 at%) crystals such as 1041 nm, 1060 nm, 1090 nm and 1102 nm, which would be excited and frequency doubled into blue-green, green, yellow-green and yellow lasers. All the results showed that the Nd:LaCOB crystals had potential applications in the field of laser and SFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]