Growth and properties of pure and rare earth-doped Ca3 (BO3)2 single crystal

Large novel birefringent pure and rare earth-doped calcium borate crystals (Ca-3(BO3)(2)) have been grown successfully by Czochralski technique. Thermal expansion coefficients of pure Ca-3(BO3)(2) have been obtained for the first time. Trivalent rare earth ions (RE3+), such as Dy3+ - and Nd3+ -doped calcium borate crystal, have been grown for optic application. Absorption and fluorescence spectra as well as fluorescence decay curves of Dy3+ -, Nd3+ -doped Ca-3(BO3)(2) crystals are measured at room temperature. Optical spectra show that there are obvious absorptions at ultraviolet to IR region. The strong emissions in visible and infrared region show that calcium borate is a suitable for rare earth-doped laser crystal. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.