Nd3+:LaB3O6 crystal has been grown by the Czochraski method and the accurate concentration of Nd3+ ions in the crystal was measured. The orientation relationship between the crystallographic axes and optical axes was determined. The polarized absorption spectra, polarized fluorescence spectra and fluorescence decay curve of Nd3+ ions in the LaB3O6 crystal were measured at room temperature. Some important spectroscopic parameters were obtained based on the Judd-Ofelt theory and the Fuchtbauer-Ladenburg formula. The discussions about the effect of crystal structure on the spectroscopic properties of Nd3+ ions were given. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.