Bi4Ge3O12 : Nd3+ and Bi12SiO20 : Nd3+ - A comparative spectroscopic study

A systematic and comparative study of luminescence and optical absorption p roperties of the trivalent rare earth neodymium ion in the Bi4Ge3O12 and Bi 12SiO20 crystal lattices is presented. The incorporation of Nd3+ ions into these crystals is more easily achieved in the first one than in the latter. In both matrices their intrinsic emission gives rise to a radiative energy transfer between the host and the impurity ion. On the other hand most of the Stark energy levels have been identified for both matrices. A calculati on of the Ohm (2), Ohm (4) and Ohm (6) Judd-Ofelt parameters is given for e ach crystal. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.