Optical transition probabilities and compositional dependence of Judd-Ofelt parameters of Nd3+ ions in fluoroindate glasses

Indium fluoride-based glasses constitute a new generation of materials for applications in the mid-infrared range. Fluoroindate glasses with the follo wing compositions tin mol%): (40 - x)InF3, 20ZnF(2), 20SrF(2), 16BaF(2), 2G dF(3), 2NaF, and xNdF(3). with x = 1.0, 1.5,...,4.0 NdF3 mol% were prepared in a dry box under argon atmosphere. The absorption spectra at room temper ature in the spectral range 300-5000 nm were obtained. The experimental osc illator strengths, f(exp), were calculated from the areas under the absorpt ion bands. Using Judd-Ofelt theory and the fit process of least square, the phenomenological intensity parameters Omega (lambda) (lambda = 2, 4, 6) we re obtained. From f-f intensity model the theoretical oscillator strengths S,,I are calculated. In order to evaluates potential applications of Nd3+ i ons in fluoroindate glasses, the spectroscopy parameters: transition probab ility between multiplets A(JJ '), branching ratio beta (JJ '), radiative li fetime tau (r), peak cross-section for stimulate emission rho (p), for each band were obtained, The results were compared with those reported in the l iterature for similar glasses in the same concentrations and show that F-4( 3/2) --> I-4(11/2) transition has the most potential for laser application with a peak fluorescence at 1036 nm. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.