Growth and optical property of ZnWO4: Er3+ crystal

Good quality crystals ZnWO4 activated with Er3+ have been grown by means of Czochralski method and characterized using optical spectroscopy techniques. XRD, absorption spectra, fluorescence spectrum are presented and the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters 522, 524, and 526 are obtained to be 6.76 x 10(-20), 0.37 x 10(-20), and 0.50 x 10(-20) cm(2), respectively. Along crystallographic axes, refractive indices are presented. The fluorescence decay time of the I-4(3/2) level has also been investigated and shows an exponential behavior with a lifetime value of 5.52 ms. The crystal is potentially used for green and infrared eye-safe lasers. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.