Spectroscopy and lasing of new mixed Nd-doped (Sc,Y)VO4 crystals

Abstract

We report the first successful growth of Nd-doped Sc x Y 1−x VO 4 crystals (0 < x ≤ 1) by the Czochralski technique. For a successful synthesis, the upper limit of the Sc concentration in the YVO 4 melt was found to be below 10 at%. The spectroscopic characterization of an Nddoped laser crystal, i.e., Nd:Sc 0.011 Y 1.003 V 0.986 O 3.986 , is discussed. Diode pumping of a c-cut crystal yielded an output power of 1.1 W at a wavelength of 1.06 µm with a slope efficiency of 43%: The slope efficiency of an a-cut crystal was 37%.

ScVO4: Explorations of Novel Crystalline Inorganic Optical Materials in Rare-Earth Orthovanadate Systems

“…We cannot therefore grow ScVO 4 crystals using the Czochralski method, a conclusion that is consistent with experimental observations. 38,39 It is due to the higher growth rate and steeper temperature gradient in the FZ method that crystalline ScVO 4 can be obtained. It can also be concluded that the thermally induced evaporation of the vanadium oxide has triggered two structural transitions in zircon-type ScVO 4 when crystallization begins in the melt: one is from the tetragonal phase to the cubic phase and the other is from one tetragonal phase to another tetragonal phase.…”

“…36 The magnetic properties of the various oxygen defect structures of ScVO 4 have also been studied. 37 More recently, it was reported that laser output at 1068 nm has been achieved in 0.5 atom % Nd doped ScVO 4 crystals 38 and tuning the YVO 4 lattice with ScVO 4 to form a disordered structure has been used in an attempt to obtain highly efficient ultrashort pulsed lasers, 39 indicating that ScVO 4 has great potential in practical optical applications. Compared with other zircon-type vanadates, however, greater difficulty has been encountered in the growth of bulk ScVO 4 crystals, and accordingly the reported laser performance is severely degraded by the poor quality of the crystals.…”

Isomorphous Substitutions in Luminescent Materials Based on ScVO₄

“…Solid solutions of rare-earth elements (REEs) orthovanadates find practical application as materials for luminophores, dosimeters of ionizing radiation [1], cathodoluminescent materials, scintillators, optical polarizers, photocatalysts for water oxidation [2], and in the last years as lightemitting diodes [3]. Several REEs (Nd, Eu, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) serve as activators [4,5].…”