Growth and spectroscopic investigations of disordered Li3Ba2Yb3(MoO4)8 crystal

A large and transparent Li3Ba2Yb3(MoO4)8 crystal has been grown from a Li2MoO4 flux by the top seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the crystal have been described consistently with the anisotropic character of the monoclinic phase. The relative energies of the Yb3+ stark levels have been determined based on the room temperature absorption and low temperature fluorescence spectra. The absorption cross sections at 977 nm are calculated to be 1.90, 2.71 and 1.09 × 10−20 cm−2 and the emission cross sections at 1002 nm are calculated to be 1.18, 3.45 and 1.50 × 10−20 cm−2 for E//X, E//Y and E//Z, respectively.

► Li3Ba2Yb3(MoO4)8 crystal was grown by the top seeded solution growth method.
► The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the crystal were measured.
► The main laser parameters were calculated and compared with other crystals.
► The crystal is promising for tunable and ultrashort pulse laser applications.