Optical transition probabilities and compositional dependence of Judd-Ofelt parameters of Nd3+ ions in fluoroindate glasses

Indium fluoride-based glasses constitute a new generation of materials for applications in the mid-infrared range. Fluoroindate glasses with the following compositions tin mol%): (40 - x)InF3, 20ZnF(2), 20SrF(2), 16BaF(2), 2GdF(3), 2NaF, and xNdF(3). with x = 1.0, 1.5,...,4.0 NdF3 mol% were prepared in a dry box under argon atmosphere. The absorption spectra at room temperature in the spectral range 300-5000 nm were obtained. The experimental oscillator strengths, f(exp), were calculated from the areas under the absorption bands. Using Judd-Ofelt theory and the fit process of least square, the phenomenological intensity parameters Omega (lambda) (lambda = 2, 4, 6) were obtained. From f-f intensity model the theoretical oscillator strengths S,,I are calculated. In order to evaluates potential applications of Nd3+ ions in fluoroindate glasses, the spectroscopy parameters: transition probability between multiplets A(JJ '), branching ratio beta (JJ '), radiative lifetime tau (r), peak cross-section for stimulate emission rho (p), for each band were obtained, The results were compared with those reported in the literature for similar glasses in the same concentrations and show that F-4(3/2) --> I-4(11/2) transition has the most potential for laser application with a peak fluorescence at 1036 nm. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.