Growth and optical properties of Cr3+ doped GdAlO3 single crystals

High-Temperature Solution crystal growth experiments on Cr3+ doped GdAlO3, are described where the flux and solute stoichiometry was changed for the process optimization to obtain homogeneous and inclusion free larger crystals. Transparent single crystals up to 3.8 cm³ have been grown. The pressure-induced wavelength shift of laser excited fluorescence in some of these crystals was measured up to 115 kbar at room temperature in relation to the R1 shift of ruby. The wavelength shift fluorescence behaviors of these doped crystals, with low Cr3+ concentrations, indicate that this material could be used in producing a new class of pressure sensors.