Growth, anisotropic spectroscopy and laser operation of the monoclinic Nd:KGd(PO3)(4) crystal

Type III KGd(PO3)(4) and Nd:KGd(PO3)(4) single crystals have been successfully grown. We have proved that these crystals have a wide transparency window closing at 160 nm in the UV region and extending to 4 mu m in the IR region. We have determined that a slight rotation occurred for the dielectric frame in the 355-1064 nm range of wavelengths. We have measured the absorption in the I-4(9/2) -> F-4(5/2) channel and the emission in the F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) channel. In addition to the three N-p, N-m, N-g usual polarizations, a fourth spectroscopic parameter representing the framework rotation of the linear polarization imaginary part around the N-p axis was needed for a full description. Lasing was obtained at 1052.4 nm in N-p polarization (ordinary wave) for propagation in the N-g - N-m principal plane.