Spectroscopic properties of Sm3+-doped NaGd(MoO4)2 crystal for visible laser application

A NaGd(MoO4)(2) crystal doped with 2 at.% Sm3+ was grown by the Czochralski method. Polarized absorption and fluorescence spectra of the crystal were measured at room temperature. Spectroscopic parameters, including absorption and emission cross sections, Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, radiative transition rates, fluorescence branching ratios, and fluorescence lifetime of the (4)G(5/2) multiplet, were obtained and compared with other Sm3+-doped crystals. The main fluorescence band around 646 nm is related to the (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(9/2) transition, which has a branching ratio of 45.4% and peak emission cross sections of 1.73 x 10(-21) and 3.13 x 10(-21)cm(2) for pi and a polarizations, respectively. The results indicate that the Sm3+:NaGd(MoO4)(2) crystal may be a potential gain medium of red visible laser pumped directly by commercially available 405 nm laser diode. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.