Phonon, optical and dielectric properties of RbNd(WO4)2 laser crystal

Abstract Polarized Raman, IR, optical and dielectric studies of RbNd(WO 4 ) 2 single crystal have been performed. Symmetries of the observed Raman and IR modes have been established and their assignment to respective motions of atoms has been proposed. We have shown that the phonon properties of RbNd(WO 4 ) 2 are very similar to the phonon properties of KGd(WO 4 ) 2 but significantly different from properties of isostructural KLu(WO 4 ) 2 and KYb(WO 4 ) 2 . The intensity parameters determined for RbNd(WO 4 ) 2 by means of the Judd–Ofelt theory are the most similar to those reported for KLu(WO 4 ) 2 :Nd 3+ . Dielectric measurements have revealed that this crystal exhibits low DC conductivity with the activation energy 1.02 eV up to 773 K and 1.22 eV at higher temperatures.