Growth, optical and thermal properties of YbxSm1-xCa4O(BO3)3 crystals

•1-inch YbxSm1-xOCa4(BO3)3 (Yb:SmCOB, x = 0.1, 0.2) crystals were grown by Bridgman method for the first time. Yb:SmCOB crystals have frequency doubling properties. The energy band and density of states of SmOCa4(BO3)3 (SmCOB) crystal were calculated by first-principles. YbxSm1-xCOB (x = 0.1, 0.2) crystals were grown by the Bridgman method for the first time. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the application prospect of Yb:SmCOB crystal in quasi-parametric chirped pulse amplification (QPCPA) and frequency-doubling laser. The phase structure, thermal properties and optical properties of Yb:SmCOB were studied, and the density of states of SmCOB crystal was calculated by first-principles. The effective segregation coefficient Keff of Yb0.1Sm0.9COB and Yb0.2Sm0.8COB crystals are 0.89 and 0.88, respectively. The thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of Yb:SmCOB decrease with increasing temperature. The specific heat increases with the increase of temperature and eventually tends to be constant. The specific heat of Yb:SmCOB crystal is greater than 0.70 J/(g·K) at room temperature. The transmittance of Yb:SmCOB crystal reaches 87 % in the range of 500 ∼ 900 nm. With the increase of Yb3+ doping concentration, the UV absorption cut-off edge is red shifted. The frequency doubling emission peak of Yb:SmCOB crystal at 490 nm was measured by 980 nm laser. Yb:SmCOB has the characteristics of high transmittance and high specific heat, and has application potential in laser frequency doubling and QPCPA.