NIR photoluminescent characteristics of Nd3+ activated fluoroborosilicate glasses for laser material applications

Spectroscopic investigation on the optical characteristics of 1.06 μm (4F3/2 → 4I11/2) transition of Nd3+ ions with different concentration in fluoroborosilicate (FBSND) glasses is reported. The glass transition temperature estimated via DSC analysis confirmed the thermal stability of the Nd3+ doped fluoroborosilicate glassy system. The phenomenological Judd-Ofelt parameters were evaluated by implementing the Judd–Ofelt (JO) theory on the recorded absorption spectrum and the parameters. Strong NIR emission has been observed for the lasing transition at 1.06 μm under an excitation of 584 nm. The emission intensity of all the luminescent bands in the NIR emission spectra of FBSND glasses observed to be increased up to 1 mol% and after that a fall in emission intensity is observed due to concentration quenching. Large value of JO intensity parameters and radiative properties such as branching ratio, stimulated emission cross section, radiative transition probability recommends FBSND glasses for photonic applications.