The influence of the synthesis conditions on the composition and the optical properties of the thin films produced by pulsed laser ablation of a Nd-doped potassium gadolinium tungstate (Nd:KGW) single crystal on r-cut sapphire is studied in the present work. Films grown under the optimum experimental conditions: a substrate temperature in the range of 600-650 degreesC and an oxygen pressure of 0.1 mbar have good stoichiometry and are polycrystalline. The photoluminescence spectra of these films have similar features as those of Nd:KGW single crystal, Upon step annealing, the films up to 1000 degreesC, the intensity (width) of the emission bands increases (decreases), whereas the emission lifetime follows a more complex behaviour. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.