PREPARATION AND FLUORESCENCE OF ND3+ DOPED POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) FIBER

Neodymium octanoate (NdOA) was synthesized from neodymium oxides and d issolved into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) forming a solid solutio n of Nd3+ doped PMMA (Nd-PMMA). Investigation of the absorption spectr um of Nd-PMMA showed that it was similar to that of Nd3+ doped silica glasses, but with about 5 nm of blue shift. The glass transition tempe rature (T(g)s) of all the Nd-PMMA. samples were about 10 degrees C hig her than that of pure PMMA for Nd3+ concentrations of 60-700ppm. The N d-PMMA was used to draw a fibre. The emission output of the fibre at 5 85 nm was observed under a green source pumping at 532 nm by optimizat ion of the Nd3+ concentration and the length of the fibre. Under 1 W p umping radiation, 60 mu W output was obtained for the fibre with Nd3concentration of 70 ppm and length of 15 cm.