Elastic and photoelastic properties of KGd(WO4)2 single crystals

The elastic and photoelastic properties of a potassium-gadolinium tungstate KGd(WO 4 ) 2 crystal are determined. A complete matrix of elastic constants for the material is obtained for the first time and the velocity diagrams in the five most practically important planes are constructed on its basis. The coefficients of acoustooptic quality M 2 are measured for the first time for the crystal in the case of isotropic diffraction for all basic configurations of acoustooptic interaction, which makes it possible to reveal the directions of the most effective interaction.