Growth and spectroscopic properties of Tb3+ doped La2CaB10O19 crystal

• Tb:LCB crystal with Tb3+ content of 3.76 × 1020 ions/cm3 has been grown.
• Absorption and emission spectra were measured and analyzed based on JO theory.
• The 5D4–7F5 transition is suitable for the generation of green light at 543 nm.

Tb3+ doped La2CaB10O19 (Tb:LCB) crystal with dimensions of 60 × 26 × 22 mm3 has been grown by the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis shows that the introduction of Tb3+ does not change the structure of LCB crystal. Tb3+ content was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry to be 3.76 × 1020 ions/cm3. The principal refractive indices of Tb:LCB crystal were accurately measured at room temperature by using the minimum deviation method, and Sellmeier equations were fitted. The unpolarized absorption and emission spectra were measured at room temperature by using X-, Y-, and Z-cut crystals. According to the Judd–Ofelt theory, the spontaneous transition probabilities, fluorescence branch ratio, and radiation lifetime of 5D4 state were calculated. The unpolarized and polarized emission properties under the 368 nm excitation were also evaluated. The decay time of the 543 nm emission corresponding to 5D4–7F5 transition was measured. The experimental results agree well with the calculated ones.