Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2012
Yb3+:Sr3Y2(BO3)4 crystals have been grown successfully by Czochralski method. The compound crystallizes in orthorhombic system, space group Pnma, with a = 7.4062(3) Å, b = 16.0030(7) Å, c = 8.7130(4) Å, α = β = γ = 90°, and Z = 4. Yb3+:Sr3Y2(BO3)4 has three cationic sites and two kinds of boron sites. The crystalline quality of the Yb3+:Sr3Y2(BO3)4 single crystal was verified by the width of the x-ray diffraction peak in the x-ray rocking curves measurement. The absorption spectrum, emission spectrum, and fluorescence lifetime of the Yb3+:Sr3Y2(BO3)4 crystal were detected at room temperature. The laser performance parameters βmin, Ipsat, and Imin were calculated.