This work reports the successful growth of a high-quality 1.0 at.% Nd:GdScO₃ single crystal with a diameter of 30 mm and a length of 80 mm by the Czochralski method. The crystalline perfection was evaluated by X-ray rocking curve measurements, yielding a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.041° for the (200) plane, indicating excellent structural integrity. Chemical etching experiments revealed that the morphology of etch pits is closely related to the orthorhombic symmetry and crystallographic orientation, demonstrating the intrinsic correlation between dislocation characteristics and lattice structure.
The optical anisotropy of the crystal was systematically investigated. Based on transmission spectra and Sellmeier equation fitting, the refractive indices along different crystallographic directions were obtained, and the orientation of the optical axes was determined, providing fundamental data for anisotropic optical device applications. Temperature-dependent fluorescence emission spectra and fluorescence decay curves were measured for the first time. By fitting the emission intensity using the Arrhenius model, an activation energy of 0.16 eV was obtained. Combined with the temperature-independent fluorescence lifetime behavior, the temperature quenching mechanism in Nd:GdScO₃ was identified as a thermally activated non-radiative crossover process. In addition, the thermal expansion coefficients along different crystallographic directions were characterized for the first time, supplying essential thermal parameters for thermal management and performance optimization in high-power solid-state laser applications.
These results demonstrate a strong physical consistency among the structural, optical, and thermal properties of Nd:GdScO₃ single crystals, and provide essential experimental parameters and mechanistic insights for further studies on thermal effect regulation, defect control, crystal processing, and laser performance optimization.