Abstract

This paper is focused on pure and Nd³⁺ doped KGd(WO₄)₂ (KGW) grown by an unusual technique, the top nucleated floating crystal method, recently used by us for the KY(WO₄)₂ (KYW) crystal [1]. This technique produces platelet or pyramidal shaped crystals (about 2×5×5 mm) which do not need any treatment since natural faces are obtained. We are giving both low and room temperature spectroscopic characterisation of the grown samples : absorption from the ground state and extended Judd-Ofelt analysis, ⁴F_3/2 excited state absorption and upconversion. In addition, the Raman spectra, useful for such a Raman shifter crystal, are presented. For all of these measurements, the path of the light is along the b’-axis, its polarisation being along the N₁ and N₂ axis of the optical indicatrix, also named N_m and N_g in literature. More details on the morphology and indexation of the faces can be found in [2] and [3] respectively.

© 1999 Optical Society of America