This paper reports the synthesis of the raw material. Crystal growth and spectral properties of TM3+/Yb3+:GdVO4. For polycrystalline raw material of rare earth (Tm3+, Yb3+) -doped GdVO4 were synthesized using liquid-phase reaction method in pH = 7.0-7.5. The Tm3+/Yb3+: GdVO4 crystal with the dimension Phi30 x 35 mm(2) was obtained by the Czochralski method. The absorption spectrum was measured at room temperature. According to the Judd-Ofelt theory the parameters of oscillator strengths Omega(lambda) were calculated: Omega(2) = 3.86 x 10(-20) cm(2), Omega(4) = 0.65 x 10(-20) cm(2), Omega(6) = 0.73 x 10(-20) cm(2). (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.