Bifunctional Bi2ZnOB2O6:Nd3+ Single Crystal for Near Infrared Lasers: Luminescence and μ-Raman Investigations

Bi2ZnOB2O6 single crystal doped with Nd3+ ions is characterized by high values of nonlinear optical coefficients as well as the effective luminescence of excited Nd3+ ions, which make this system a unique candidate for near infrared to visible laser converters. The investigated Bi2ZnOB2O6:Nd3+ single crystal was grown by means of the Kyropoulos method. The vibrational properties of Bi2ZnOB2O6:Nd3+ were studied using μ-Raman spectroscopy. In particular, the Raman-active modes detected in parallel and cross-polarizations were assigned to the vibrations of the characteristic molecular groups BO3, BO4, ZnO4, and BiO6. In the absorption spectra of Bi2ZnOB2O6:Nd3+ the bands related to the optical transitions from the 4I9/2 ground state to the excited states of Nd3+ ions were detected at 432, 515, 528, 533, 577, 586, 689, 750, 810, 874, and 1605 nm. Moreover, the strong emission of Bi2ZnOB2O6:Nd3+ with a maximum at about 1062 nm (4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transition) was detected under the excitation at 514 nm. The decay k...