V. L. Temerov

Flux crystallization of trigonal GdFe3(BO3)4 competing with the crystallization of α-Fe2O3

The formation of trigonal GdFe3(BO3)4 crystals in the Bi2Mo3O12-B2O3-Li2MoO4-Gd2O3-Fe2O3 system was studied. The flux compositions for which GdFe3(BO3)4 is the high-temperature phase with a wide range of crystallization were determined. The features of nucleation of these crystals and their growth near the phase boundary with α-Fe2O3 were analyzed. The growth of GdFe3(BO3)4 single crystals involving preliminary nonequilibrium crystallization of α-Fe2O3 is described.

Magnetic circular dichroism and optical absorption in TmAl3(BO3)4

The polarized spectra of absorption and magnetic circular dichroism in a TmAl3(BO3)4 single crystal are studied in the region of 3H6 → 3F4, 3H6 → 3F3, and 3H6 → 3F2 electronic transitions in the Tm3+ ion. The structure of the spectra is interpreted qualitatively. It is shown that the magnetic circular dichroism of the 3H6 → 3F4 transition is determined by the contribution from the splitting of the ground state, whereas the magnetic circular dichroism of the 3H6 → 3F3 transition is governed by the contribution from the splitting of an excited state in a trigonal crystal field.

Electromechanical properties of Pb3Ga2Ge4O14 piezoelectric crystals grown from solution in a melt

Single crystals of lead gallium germanate Pb3Ga2Ge4O14 are grown from their own solution melts. The propagation of bulk acoustic waves is investigated, and the elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric constants are calculated. The temperature dependences of the dielectric constants of this compound are analyzed.

The growth and structure of Pb3Ga2Ge4O14 and Ba3Ga2Ge4O14 single crystals

Conditions for the flux synthesis of Pb3Ga2Ge4O14 and Ba3Ga2Ge4O14 single crystals and their solid solutions Pb3 − xBaxGa2Ge4O14 are studied. Structural analysis showed that the Ga3+-and Ge4+-cation positions in flux-grown Pb3Ga2Ge4O14 and Ba3Ga2Ge4O14 single crystals are not mixed.

Gd3Ga5O12:Nd3+ crystals for a continuous-wave diode-pumped laser operating in 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 and 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 channels

Garnet crystals of the composition Gd3Ga5O12:Nd3+ (concentration series CNd = 1–10 at. %) were grown from flux. In terms of spectroscopy, these crystals, unlike those grown from melts, form medium with a single activator center. For the first time, continuous-wave lasing was excited by diode pumping with the use of Gd3Ga5O12:Nd3+ crystals at the wavelengths λ3 = 1.3315 and λ4 = 1.3370 μm of the 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 channel and also the simultaneous generation at two wavelengths, λ1 = 1.0621 and λ2 = 1.0600 μm, of the 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 channel.

Magneto-optical properties of terbium iron borate

The Faraday effect induced by an external magnetic field in TbFe₃(BO₃)₄ and TbAl₃(BO₃)₄ borates at a wavelength 633 nm has been investigated. It was found that the terbium subsystem brings the dominant magnetic contribution to the Faraday rotation at low temperatures in borate TbFe₃(BO₃)₄. For both TbFe₃(BO₃)₄ and TbAl₃(BO₃)₄ the magneto-optical coefficients of the terbium subsystem were determined.