Thermal and optical properties of Nd3+ doped lead zinc borate glasses—Influence of alkali metal ions

Abstract: In the present investigation a new series of six different Nd3+ doped alkali and mixed alkali (Li, Na, K, Li–Na, Li–K and Na–K) heavy metal (PbO and ZnO) borate glasses were prepared using the melt quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the glass systems has been identified based on the X-ray diffraction analysis. The glass transition studies were carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Optical properties were studied by measuring the optical absorption and near infrared luminescence spectra. The Judd–Ofelt (J–O) theory has been applied to calculate J–O intensity parameters, Ω λ (λ=2, 4 and 6) and in turn used to estimate radiative properties of certain transitions. Spectroscopic parameters such as transition probabilities (A T ), branching ratios (β), radiative lifetimes (τ R ) and integrated absorption cross-sections (Σ) were calculated using J–O intensity parameters for all transitions. Using emission spectra, experimental branching ratios and stimulated emission cross-sections (σ P ) are obtained for all the observed emission transitions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]