Growth, thermal and spectroscopic characterization of Er3+:NaY(MoO4)2 crystal

Er3+:NaY(MoO4)2 crystal with dimensions up to Φ21×42 mm2 was grown by Czochralski method. Er3+:NaY(MoO4)2 crystal melts congruently at 1125 °C. The hardness of Er3+:NaY(MoO4)2 crystal was 314 VDH. The specific heat at 330 K is 0.71 J/g K (72.9 cal/mol K). The thermal expansion coefficients are 2.53×10−5 and 1.52×10−5 K−1 for c- and a-axes, respectively. The spectroscopic properties of Er3+:NaY(MoO4)2 crystals were investigated. The intensity parameters Ωλ (λ=2,4,6) in Er3+:NaY(MoO4)2 crystal are: Ωλ=17.82×10−20, Ω4=3.277×10−20, Ω6=3.104×10−20 for π-polarization and Ω2=19.74×10−20, Ω4=2.716×10−20, Ω6=1.769×10−20 for σ-polarization. The emission cross sections σem were calculated to be 0.926×10−20 cm2 at 1537 nm for π-polarization and 1.107×10−20 cm2 at 1539 nm for σ-polarization.