NIR fluorescence studies of Neodymium ions doped sodium fluoroborate glasses for 1.06µm laser applications.

The concentration dependent luminescence properties of Nd(3+) ions doped lead calcium zinc sodium fluoroborate (LCZSFB) glasses were prepared via a melt quenching technique and reported through optical absorption, NIR luminescence and lifetime measurements. The optical transition properties of Nd(3+) ions have been analyzed using Judd-Ofelt theory. The present glasses have high stimulated emission cross - sections, entail that they have high potential laser applications. The decay curves of all the glasses show single exponential behavior. The discrepancy between the experimental and calculated lifetimes of emitting level was ascribed to energy transfer through cross-relaxation. The estimated values of radiative and saturation intensity of (4)F3/2→(4)I11/2 transition indicates the favorable lasing action at 1.06µm.

Spectroscopic and laser properties of Sm³âº ions doped lithium fluoroborate glasses for efficient visible lasers.

The Sm(3+)-doped lead barium zinc lithium fluoroborate (LBZLFB) glasses of composition 20PbO + 5BaO + 5ZnO + 10LiF + (60-x) B(2)O(3) + xSm(2)O(3), (where x=0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mol%) have been prepared by conventional melt quenching technique and their structural and spectroscopic behavior were studied and reported. The amorphous nature of these glass samples was confirmed with XRD studies. The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra reveal that, the glasses contain BO(3), BO(4), non-bridging oxygen and strong OH bonds. The bonding parameters and the oscillator strengths were determined from the absorption spectra. These parameters have been used to obtain the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters. Using these intensity parameters various radiative and laser properties were predicted. The values of J-O intensity parameters suggested an increase in the degree of symmetry of the local ligand field at Sm(3+) sites. The decay rates for the (4)G(5/2) level of Sm(3+) ions have been measured and are found to be single exponential at lower concentrations (<1.0 mol%) and turn into non-exponential at higher concentrations (≥1.0 mol%), due to energy transfer through cross-relaxation. From the emission characteristic parameters of (4)G(5/2) level, it is concluded that the LBZLFB glasses could be useful for photonic devices like visible lasers, fluorescent display devices and optical amplifiers, operated in the visible region.