ANISOTROPY OF OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF SRLAALO4 AND SRLAA1O(4)ND

Single crystals of SrLaAlO4 and SrLaAlO4:Nd have been grown by the Czochralski method and their optical properties have been studied in polarized light. The crystals are positive uniaxial, and their birefringence is stable with respect to temperature in the 290 K-520 K temperature region. Undoped crystal is transparent from 240 nm to 7.6 mu m. Intensities of absorption and spontaneous emission of Nd3+ are slightly lower for light polarized perpendicular than those for light polarized parallel to the optical axis. Laser action in SrLaAlO4:Nd has been obtained for the first time using a diode laser as a pump. Stimulated emission occurs in the 1073 nm-1080 nm spectral region. Poor laser performance is attributed to the self-quenching of Nd emission.