ND-DOPED SILICA GLASSES BY SOL-GEL METHOD - EFFECT OF ALUMINUM CO-DOPING

Nd-silica glasses with Nd content up to 10 wt% have been prepared by c o-doping with aluminium using sol-gel technique. The glasses were dens ified at 950-degrees-C. Effect of co-dopant concentration on optical a bsorption, refractive index and density have been studied. It is concl uded that the co-dopant modifies the silica matrix and provides better coordination of the Nd-ions. Density and refractive index increases l inearly with co-dopant concentration.