Structural, spectroscopic and optical gain of Nd3+ doped fluorophosphate glasses for solid state laser application

Nd3+ doped fluorophosphate glasses (PANCaFN) with chemical composition of (50-x) P2O5-12Na(2)O-8Al(2)O(3)-10CaO-10KF-10CaF(2)-xNd(2)O(3) (where x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mol%) have been successfully prepared by melt-quenching method and characterized by several techniques. The optical absorption measurements exhibited signature of Nd3+ absorption bands in fluorophosphate glasses showed. The spectroscopic analysis have been carried out using Judd-Ofelt parameters and oscillator strength to determine radiative properties such as radiative transition probability (A(R)), branching ratio (beta(r)), lifetime (tau), emission cross-section (sigma(e)) and quantum efficiency (eta). The highest emission intensity was found at 1060 nm for transition F-4(3/2) -> I-4(13/2) under excitation wavelength of 582 nm for PANCaFN2. The emission cross section, branching ratio and lifetime were evaluated and showed 4.92 x 10(-20) cm(2,) 0.7 and 200 mu s, respectively. More importantly, the outstanding quantum efficiency of PANCaFN2 could reach to 98.92%. The addition of Nd3+ ion into fluorophosphate glass could enhance the spectroscopic properties which could play as a potential candidate for solid state applications. Theoretical optical gain evaluation and experimental calculation confirmed that PANCaFN2 had the higher gain than other samples.