Luminescence properties of Nd3+ ions doped P2O5-Li2O3-GdF3 glasses for laser applications

Abstract

The phosphate glass doped with Nd3+ ions, is a recognized high gain laser material due to better spectroscopic properties. In present study, the luminescent properties of Nd3+ doped lithium-gadolinium phosphate glasses were investigated. The compactness of the glass matrix believed to increase with increasing concentration of Nd2O3 contents, because the density of the samples also increases in same fashion. Furthermore, the emission spectra monitor after 804 nm excitation show three emission peaks at 874, 1065 and 1333 nm. In the present work maximum emission intensity recorded for 1 mol% of Nd2O3 and above 1 mol% the emission intensity decrease. The Judd-Ofelt (JO) theory applied to calculate the JO intensity parameters (Ω2, 4, 6), oscillator strength for absorption spectra, several radiative properties for the prepared glasses. The calculated JO intensity parameters show the Ω4 > Ω6> Ω2 trend which indicate rigid nature of the present glasses. The radiative transition probability, stimulated emission cross section and branching ratio show higher values for 4F3/2→4I11/2 transition. From properties evaluated in the present work it is concluded that the glass doped with 1.0 mol% Nd2O3 can be a potential candidate for laser applications.