Spectroscopy, thermal and optical properties of Nd3+-doped chalcogenide glasses

We investigated the spectroscopic, thermo-optical and mechanical properties of 70% Ga2S3:30% La2S3 (mol%) chalcogenide glass and this composition dope d with 0.05, and 0.2 mol% Nd2S3, prepared by melt-quenching the sulphides i n a vitreous carbon crucible in a silica ampoule. The fluorescence quantum efficiency for the 0.05 mol% Nd3+ doped sample, obtained by thermal lens te chnique was 1.01 +/- 0.07 and the lifetime of the fluorescence of this samp le was 78.00 +/- 0.05 mus. The thermal diffusivity of these samples (2.7 +/ - 0.1) x 10(-3) cm(2) s(-1) was determined by the thermal lens method. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.