Fluorescence properties of Nd3+-doped tellurite glasses

The compositional and concentration dependence of luminescence of the 4F3/2 → 4IJ (J = 13/2, 11/2 and 9/2) transitions in four Nd3+-doped tellurite based glasses has been studied. The free-ion energy levels obtained for 60TeO2 + 39ZnO2 + 1.0Nd2O3 (TZN10) glass have been analysed using the free-ion Hamiltonian model and compared with similar results obtained for Nd3+:glass systems. The absorption spectrum of TZN10 glass has been analysed using the Judd–Ofelt theory. Relatively longer decay rates have been obtained for Nd3+-doped phosphotellurite glasses. The emission characteristics of the 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transition, of the Nd3+:TZN10 glass, are found to be comparable to those obtained for Nd3+:phosphate laser glasses. The non-exponential shape of the emission decay curves for the 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transition is attributed to the presence of energy transfer processes between the Nd3+ ions.