Intense orange emission in Pr3+ doped lead phosphate glass

Spectroscopic properties of one mol% Pr2O3 embedded in 40%PbO-60%P2O5 glass have been investigated at room temperature. From the absorption spectra energy levels of the observed bands are assigned. Using free ion Hamiltonian theoretical values of energy of 13 multiplets of Pr3+ are calculated. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters have been estimated by including and excluding the hypersensitive transition (3H4→3P2). The best set of Judd-Ofelt parameters are obtained by omitting 3H4→3P2 transition from the calculation. These parameters are used to evaluate the important laser parameters for various emission lines. Our investigation reveals that the present glass may be utilized as a laser active medium corresponding to 3P0→3H4 and 1D2→3H4 transitions respectively, for 484.6 nm (blue) and 599.5 nm (strong orange) emissions. Indirect and direct optical band gap energies of Pr3+ doped lead phosphate glass matrix have also been reported.