Nonradiative Energy Losses and Radiation Trapping in Neodymium‐Doped Phosphate Laser Glasses

Abstract

Fluorescence radiation trapping and nonradiative energy losses from the Nd3+4F3/2 state are reported for two widely used commercial phosphate laser glasses (LHG‐8 and LG‐770). The effects of hydroxyl‐group, transition‐metal (Cu, Fe, V, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Pt), and rare‐earth (Dy, Pr, Sm, and Ce) impurities on the 4F3/2 nonradiative decay rate in these glasses are quantified. Nd concentration quenching effects are reported for doping levels ranging from about 0.5 × 1020 to 8.0 × 1020 ions/cm3. The results are analyzed using the Förster–Dexter theory for dipolar energy transfer. Quenching rates for transition‐metal ions correlate with the magnitude of spectral overlap for Nd emission (donor) and the metal ion absorption (acceptor). The nonradiative decay rates due to hydroxyl groups follow Förster–Dexter theory except at low Nd‐doping levels (≲2 × 1020 ions/cm3) where the quenching rate becomes independent of the Nd concentration. The data suggest a possible correlation of OH sites with Nd ions in this doping region. The effects of radiation trapping on the fluorescence decay are reported as a function of sample size, shape, and doping level. The results agree well with the theory except for samples with small doping‐length products; in these cases, multiple internal reflections from the sample surfaces enhance the trapping effect.