Stark components of lower-lying manifolds and emission cross-sections of intermanifold and inter-stark transitions of Nd3+ (4f(3)) in polycrystalline ceramic garnet Y3Al5O12

Stark energy levels of the F-4(3/2), I-4(9/2), and 4I(11/2) manifolds have been characterized using the room temperature fluorescence spectra for the F-4(3/2) -> I-4(9/2) and F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) transitions of Nd3+(4f(3)) in polycrystalline ceramic garnet Y3Al5O12 (YAG). The emission cross-sections of the intermanifold transitions, F-4(3/2) -> I-4(9/2) and F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2), as well as the principal inter-Stark transitions, R-1 -> Z(5) (945.3 nm) and R-1 -> Y-2 (1063.5 nm), have also been determined. These results are finally compared with those of Nd3+ XAG single crystal. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.