Influence of the different Gd/Y ratio on the properties of Nd:YxGd1-xVO4 mixed crystals

Different Nd:YxGd1-xVO4 mixed crystals with low Nd ion concentrations were successfully grown by the Czochralski method. The influences of different Gd/Y ratio on the Nd:YxGd1-xVO4 mixed crystal properties were also investigated for the first time. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) results showed that the constants of a, c and the dimensions of unit cell were linear with the Gd content in mixed crystal. The thermal and optical properties show some interesting changes. The laser experiments have proved that Nd:YxGd1-xVO4 crystals are new good laser materials. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.