Composition Dependent Spectroscopic Properties of Nd3+ Doped Sodium Lead Borate Glasses.

Nd3+ doped oxide glasses of the type xNa2O-30 PbO-(69.5-x) B2O3-0.5Nd2O3 were prepared and investigated for physical and spectroscopic properties. Optical absorption spectra and Judd-Ofelt theory has been used to determine the oscillator strengths and the intensity parameters Ωλ (λ=2, 4, 6). The radiative transition probability (A), radiative lifetime (τR) and branching ratio (βR) for the fluorescent levels of Nd3+ in the prepared glasses have been determined. The lasing efficiency of the prepared glasses has been characterized by the spectroscopic quality factor (Ω4/Ω6), the value of which is in the range 0.2-1.5, typical for Nd3+ in different laser hosts. The radiative transition probability of the potential lasing transition 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 of Nd3+ ions is found to increase with increase in content of Na2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]