Thermal properties of a Nd:LuVO4 crystal

A Nd‐doped lutetium orthovanadate Nd:LuVO₄ crystal has been grown using a modified Czochralski method. The thermal properties of this crystal have been studied by measuring the thermal expansion, specific heat and thermal diffusivity. The thermal expansion coefficients are α₁₁ = 1.7 × 10^‐6, α₂₂ = 1.5 × 10^‐6 and α₃₃ = 9.1 × 10^‐6/K in the temperature range of 298–573 K along the three respective crystallographic axes. The specific heat is almost linear and increases from 0.442 to 0.498 Jg^‐1K^‐1 in the measured temperature range. The thermal diffusivity is anisotropic and decreases with increasing temperature from 295 to 548 K. At room temperature the calculated thermal conductivities κ₁₁ and κ₃₃ are 7.96 and 9.77 Wm^‐1K^‐1, respectively. These thermal parameters of Nd:LuVO₄ crystal have indicated that it is an excellent candidate laser material. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)