Growth and spectroscopic investigations of a new laser crystal Yb3+-doped Na2Gd4 (MoO4)7

•Yb3+:Na2Gd4(MoO4)7 crystal has been grown by the Czochralski method.•The peak absorption cross section of Yb3+:NGM crystal is larger than Yb3+ doped the other crystals except KGd(WO4)2 crystal.•The research result shows that Yb3+:Na2Gd4(MoO4)7 is promising for both tunable and femtosecond laser applications.

The 5 at.% Yb3+:Na2Gd4(MoO4)7 crystal has been grown by the Czochralski method. The polarized spectra and laser parameters, including absorption cross-section, emission cross-section and gain cross-section are reported. The strong absorption peak of both σ-polarization and π-polarization spectra is centered at 976 nm, which is beneficial for the AlGaAs LD pumping. Both have the FWHM of 58 nm and their absorption coefficients are 4.03 cm−1 and 5.69 cm−1, respectively. The emission cross-section is 2.1 × 10−20 cm2 at 1010 nm wavelength. The radiative lifetime and fluorescence decay lifetime of 2F5/2–2F7/2 are 498 μs and 522 μs, respectively. The gain emission cross-section is also evaluated. The research result shows that this crystal might be promising for both tunable and femtosecond laser applications.