Growth and spectroscopic properties of Yb:BSO single crystal

Yb(3+):Bi(4)Si(3)O(12) crystal up to phi 25 x 120 mm(2) has been grown by the modified vertical Bridgman method. The concentration of Yb3+ in as-grown crystal was measured by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and the segregation coefficient was calculated as 3.5. The effect of different melt composition for BSO crystal growth will be discussed. The spectral properties have been investigated. The absorption cross section sigma(alpha) is 2.92 x 10(-20) cm(2) at 975 nm. The emission cross section a, is 0.468 x 10(-20) cm(2) at 1033 nm wavelength. The fluorescence lifetime is 1.01 ms at room temperature. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.