SrMoO4:Pr3+ single crystals: Growth and properties

Concentration series of SrMoO4:Pr3+ crystals are grown by the Czochralski method from the melt. The doping impurity was introduced in a form of the PbNbO4 compound, which provides an effective distribution coefficient of praseodymium ions in this matrix of 0.9. The correlation of crystallization parameters with the real structure of the crystals grown is investigated. The technology of fabrication of optically uniform single crystal 15 mm in diameter and up to 75 mm in length is developed. The temperature dependences of heat conductivity are investigated, and the heat conductivity coefficients are determined for nominally pure and Pr3+-doped crystals. It is shown that the introduction of praseodymium ions reduces the heat conductivity of strontium molybdate from 4.2 W/(m K) for the undoped crystal to 3.65 W/(m K) for SrMoO4:Pr3+ (0.014 at %). The spectral-luminescent characteristics of SrMoO4:Pr3+ crystals are investigated. A series of characteristic bands with intensity proportional to the concentration of the doping ion is observed in the absorption spectra. The luminescence spectrum is obtained with a diode laser pumping at a wavelength of 450 nm and luminescence quenching kinetics is investigated. The luminescence intensity maximum is observed at a wavelength of 646 nm (3P0-3F4 transition). The luminescence lifetime was 1.5 μs.