Abstract
High quality La2CaB10O19 single crystals doped with Pr3+ ions were grown by means of the top seeded solution growth method. The concentration of Pr3+ ions in the starting melt was equal to 4 at%, which in consequence gave single crystals containing 2.5 at% of Pr3+ ions, due to small distribution coefficient. The absorption and luminescence spectra were recorded in the wavelength range from 200 to 3000 nm at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees C and analyzed using the Judd-Ofelt theory. With the intensity parameters obtained in the present work, the estimated radiative life time of the P-3(0) emitting state is 28 mu s. Possible applications of this crystal as a luminophore are discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.