Spectroscopic characterization of Nd3+ ions in barium fluoroborophosphate glasses

Spectroscopic properties of Nd3+ in barium fluoroborophosphate glassy matri x have been analyzed by fitting the experimental data with the standard Jud d-Ofelt theory. Various spectroscopic parameters, viz. radiative transition probabilities, radiative decay time, fluorescence branching ratios, electr ic dipole line strengths, stimulated emission cross-sections and optical ga in of the principal fluorescence transition from the F-4(3/2) metastable le vel were obtained to evaluate the potential of the samples as laser materia l. Results show that addition of borate content to the fluorophosphate matr ix will reduce the fluorescence spectral properties of Nd3+. However, the r adiative properties of the fluoroborophosphate glassy matrix are found to b e well improved over those of pure borate and pure phosphate matrix and are attributed to the influence of fluorine content in the glassy matrix. Quan titative estimation of the non-radiative processes such as multiphonon rela xation and quenching by water content shows that the first process is absen t in our sample while the water content is found to be below the critical l evel for optimum laser performance. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.