Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Hyperspectral Imaging as a Tool to Study Optical Anisotropy in Lanthanide-Based Molecular Single Crystals
Published on: April 14, 2020
Laser properties of nd(+3) and ho(+3) doped crystals with the apatite structure
Abstract:
A great variety of compounds occur in nature or have been synthesized in the laboratory that crystallize with the apatite structure. We have investigated a number of the apatites and found them to be excellent laser hosts for neodymium and holmium. The apatites described in this paper were grown using the Czochralski method, have low optical losses in the pump and emission spectral regions for neodymium and holmium, and the hosts have been developed to readily accept large concentrations of doping ions. This paper describes the crystal growth, physical properties, spectroscopy, and laser performance of this family of new laser materials.
Related Concept Videos
Unit Cells
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Determination of Crystal Structures
Valence Bond Theory
Crystal Density
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.

