UNUSUAL CRYSTAL-FIELD ENERGY LEVELS AND EFFICIENT LASER PROPERTIES OF YVO4:Nd

Abstract

The spectral properties of Nd-doped YVO4, grown from the melt, have been determined. In absorption the Stark split levels are reduced in comparison to other Nd-doped materials. The Nd ion appears to be in a cubic crystal field even though it substitutes for Y whose point symmetry is less than (42̄m). The reduced Stark splitting, caused by an admixture of 4f and 5d wave functions, leads to efficient, low-threshold laser action. Transfer of energy from the lattice to Nd ions is also observed.