Flux Growth, Structural Studies and Spectroscopy of K2NdNb5O15 and Nd:K2LaNb5O15 Crystals.

Abstract Single crystals of K 2 NdNb 5 O 15 (KNdN) and Nd 3+ -doped K 2 LaNb 5 O 15 (Nd:KLN) were grown by means of the flux growth technique. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that they belong to the tetragonal tungsten–bronze niobates family. The 10 and 298 K absorption and emission spectra and the luminescence decay curves were measured and discussed in the light of the structural properties. The room temperature absorption spectra were analyzed in the framework of the Judd–Ofelt Theory in order to obtain information about the probabilities of the radiative processes. The calculated lifetimes have been compared with the experimental decay times in order to estimate the efficiencies of the non-radiative processes in both crystals.