New lasing ferroelectric material Pb5Ge3O11-Nd-3(+)

A study was made to achieve lasing in Pb5Ge3O11-Nd (3+), a trigonal ferroelectric crystal, the feasibility having been established by the results of earlier luminescence spectrum analysis. Single crystals of this material were synthesized by the Czochralski method from optical-grade lead germanate with high concentration of neodymium ions, under precisely controlled physico-chemical conditions including compensation of excess charge carriers with potassium ions. Lasing was excited at 77 and 300 K with a low energy thereshold on the 4f(3/2)4I(11/2) inter-Stark transition. This new laser source in an optically positive crystal with one center and ordered structure, its transparency window is 0.5-4 micron, its melting point and Curie point are about 1010 and 450 K respectively. The results of this study confirm the feasibility of eeo phase synchronism.