Growth, refractive index and spectroscopic characteristic of Yb3+:Ca2La2/3(VO4)2 crystal

An Yb3+:Ca2La2/3(VO4)2 crystal with dimensions of Ø18×30 mm3 has been grown by the Czochralski method. The principal refractive indices of the Yb3+:Ca2La2/3(VO4)2 crystal have been measured by the auto-collimation method. The experimentally obtained room temperature values of the refractive indices are: no=1.8546, ne=1.8322 at the 1.064 μm wavelength. The specific heat of the Yb3+:Ca2La2/3(VO4)2 crystals is 0.053 J/g K at 308 K. The hardness of the Yb3+:Ca2La2/3(VO4)2 crystal is 946.1 VDH. Spectroscopic characterization of the Yb3+:Ca2La2/3(VO4)2 crystal has been performed as well. The polarized absorption cross-sections are 2.05×10−20 cm2 for E∥c and 2.47×10−20 cm2 for E⊥c, respectively. The polarized emission cross-sections are 1.55×10−20 cm2 for E∥c and 1.61×10−20 cm2 for E⊥c, respectively. The Yb3+:Ca2La2/3(VO4)2 crystal has a broad operating laser wavelength, which is useful for generating femtosecond pulses.