Neodymium, thulium and ytterbium-doped lutetium orthovanadate (RE:LuVO4) single crystals were successfully grown by the floating zone method under the atmosphere of a pure oxygen flow. All the grown crystals had no cracks and no inclusions for any dopant and concentration. Post-growth annealing at 1000 degrees C in air was effective in eliminating the coloring in yellowish ocher. Effective distribution coefficient of Nd in LuVO4 was found to be about 0.5 whereas those of Tm and Yb are nearly unity. Polarizing microscopy demonstrated that most crystals had no growth striations except for the Nd-doped crystals. The absorption coefficients of Nd:LuVO4 and Tm:LuVO4 around 800 nm were much higher than those of Nd:GdVO4 and Tm:GdVO4. For the Tm:LuVO4, relative intensity of fluorescence spectrum was higher than that of Tm:GdVO4 above 1900 nm where the self-absorption could be neglected. The width of fluorescence spectrum of Yb:LuVO4 around I mu m was comparable to that of Yb:YVO4, indicating the possibility of formation of quasi-three level for lasing at room temperature. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.