The dark-brown colored 5 at% Yb-doped YAlO3 (Yb:YAP) single crystal was grown successfully by temperature gradient technique (TGT) for the first time. The TGT-grown Yb:YAP crystal with the perovskite structure and excellent crystallization perfection were confirmed by the X-ray diffractions techniques. The dark-brown color of TGT-Yb:YAP crystal turned into the colorless after annealing in the air at 1200 degrees C for 10h. The absorption spectra, LD-excited infrared emission and X-ray excited luminescence spectra of the air-annealed Yb:YAP single crystal were investigated at the room temperature. The results indicate that the TGT-Yb:YAP single crystals can be used for the laser and scintillation applications. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.