GdVO4 single crystal co-doped with Nd3+ and Yb3+ was grown by the Czochralski method. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern of Nd, Yb: GdVO4 crystal confirms that the as-grown crystal is isostructural with pure GdVO4 crystal, and the result of the optical-homogeneity measurement shows that this crystal is comparatively optic homogeneous. Its polarized absorption spectrum and polarized luminescence spectrum were measured at room temperature. The spectrum properties of Nd3+ and Yb3+ in Nd,Yb:GdVO4 crystal are analyzed by the Judd-Ofelt theory and the reciprocity method respectively. And energy transfer between Nd3+ and Yb3+ is also discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.