Optical spectra of flux grown Nd3+:YTa7O19 and Nd3+:LaTa7O19 crystals

Abstract Nd3+:YTa7O19 and Nd3+:LaTa7O19 crystals were grown by spontaneous nucleation using a K2Mo3O10–B2O3 flux. The absorption and emission spectra were measured at 10 and 300 K. The low temperature spectra evidence the presence of non-equivalent optical centres, whose origin is discussed on the basis of the structural data. The room temperature spectra show a marked inhomogeneous broadening that makes these crystals interesting for tunable solid state laser applications. The decay profiles of the luminescence, measured as a function of the temperature and of the concentration, give information about the efficiency of the non-radiative processes affecting the emission of Nd3+.