The crystal growth, structure, absorption spectra, J-O parameters, emission spectra, Gain spectra and fluorescence lifetime of Tm:LuYSiO5 single crystal were discussed for the first time to my best knowledge. The absorption cross-section is 0.91 x 10(-20) cm(2). The full width half maximum is 8 nm at 791 nm. The larger emission cross-section of 0.27 x 10(-20) cm(2) at 1832 nm and broader full width half maximum of 277 nm make Tm:LuYSiO5 suitable for laser output around the 2.0 mu m wavelength. The fluorescence decay time of the F-3(4)-H-3(6) transition was measured to be 1.44 ms. All the results indicate that Tm:LuYSiO5 should have potential technological applications in 2 mu m tunable laser. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.