Growth, defects, mechanical and optical properties of Nd:GSAG and Nd:YSAG laser crystal

Nd:GSAG and Nd:YSAG crystals were grown successfully by standard Czochralski (Cz) technique. The defects structure morphology of Nd:GSAG and Nd:YSAG crystals were investigated by chemical etching method with phosphoric acid as etchant. The mechanical properties of the as-grown crystals (including hardness, fracture toughness, elastic modulus and brittle index) were systematically estimated. The transmission spectra of the as-grown crystals were measured in the wavelength of 280-1000 nm at room temperature and all of the absorption peaks were assigned. All the obtained results play a quite important role in the further investigation of Nd:GSAG and Nd:YSAG crystal.