Crystal growth and optical properties of Sm:CaNb2O6 single crystal

Sm:CaNb2O6 single crystal has been grown by the Czochralski method. Its high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction, optical absorption, emission spectroscopic as well as lifetime have been studied. Thermal expansion coefficients (α), J–O parameters (Ωi), radiative lifetime (τrad), branching ratios (β) and stimulated emission cross-sections (σe) were calculated. The quantum efficiency (η) was calculated to be 97%. The intense peak emission cross section at 610, 658 nm were calculated to be 2.40 × 10−21, 2.42 × 10−21 cm2. These results indicate that Sm:CaNb2O6 crystal has potential use in visible laser and photonic devices area.

► Sm:CaNb2O6 single crystal was grown by the Czochralski method.
► Thermal expansion coefficients and J–O parameters were calculated.
► We found that this crystal had high quantum efficiency of 97%.