Thermal and optical properties of Tm3+:SrMoO4 crystal

Single crystal Tm3+:SrMoO4 was grown successfully by Czochralski technique along the (0 0 1) orientation in N-2 atmosphere. The refractive index of SrMoO4 crystal was measured at room temperature. The linear thermal expansion coefficients along c- and a-axes were measured to be 1.70 x 10(-5) degrees C-1 and 0.59 x 10(-5) degrees C-1, respectively. Its polarized absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and fluorescence decay curve have also been investigated at room temperature. Based on the Judd-Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters have been determined as: Omega(2) = 7.875 x 10(-20), Omega(4) = 2.797 x 10(-20) and Omega(6) = 0.92 x 10(-20) cm(2). The radiative probabilities, radiative branching ratios, radiative lifetimes and stimulated emission cross sections of Tm3+ in SrMoO4 were obtained. The quantum efficiency of the H-3(4) level is determined to be approximately 88.56% for this material. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.