Float zone growth and anisotropic spectral properties of Nd:LaVO4 single crystals

Nd:LaVO4 single crystals were successfully grown by the floating zone method and their optical properties along each optic elasticity axis were investigated. The crystals grown at 10 mm/h in air did not contain any macroscopic defects for Nd-concentrations upto 5 at%. The optic elasticity axes were determined by the conoscopic figures with a polarizing microscope. The absorption cross-section along the Z-axis was 2.6×10−20 cm2 near 800 nm and the FWHM was 20 nm. The absorption cross-sections along other directions were much the same as that along the Z-axis. The fluorescence lifetime of the 5 at%-doped crystal was approximately 80 μs. All the polarized fluorescence spectra of the Nd:LaVO4 single crystal had a broadened band around 1060 nm with FWHMs of 7–10 nm, which are wide enough to generate femtosecond order pulses.

► High-quality Nd:LaVO4 single crystals were grown by the floating zone method. ► Anisotropic spectral properties along each optic elasticity axis were investigated. ► FWHM of absorption spectrum around 800 nm was 20 nm. ► FWHM of fluorescence spectrum around 1064 nm was 10 nm. ► The fluorescence lifetime of 5 at%-doped crystal was about 80 μs.