Vacuum ultraviolet luminescence from a micro-pulling-down method grown Nd3+:(La0.9,Ba0.1)F2.9

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) luminescence from a Nd 3+ :(La 1− x ,Ba x )F 3− x ( x =0.1) and a Nd 3+ :LaF 3 single crystal grown by the micro-pulling-down method modified for fluoride crystal growth is discussed. Emission resulting from excitation with 157 nm pulses of a F 2 laser and by 290 nm femtosecond pulses of a Ti:sapphire laser show that the luminescence spectral and temporal characteristics are similar for both excitation cases and that they have good prospects as a VUV laser material.