Crystal growth, defects, and mechanical and spectral properties of a novel mixed laser crystal Nd:GdYNbO4

A mixed laser crystal of Nd-doped GYNO crystal was grown successfully by Czochralski method. The crystal belongs to monoclinic system with space group I2/a, the structural parameters are obtained by the X-ray Rietveld refinement method. The defects and dislocations along three crystallographic orientations were studied by using the chemical etching method with the phosphoric acid etchant. The mechanical properties (including hardness, yield strength, fracture toughness, and brittle index) of the crystal were estimated by Vickers hardness test. The transmission spectrum was measured at room temperature, and the absorption peaks were assigned. Spectral properties of the as-grown crystal were investigated by Judd–Ofelt theory, and the Judd–Ofelt intense parameters Ω2,4,6 were obtained to be 9.674 × 10−20, 2.092 × 10−20, and 4.061 × 10−20 cm2, respectively.