Spectroscopic studies of Nd-doped alkali fluoroborophosphate glasses

A new family of three optical glasses of the following chemical composition with 1 mol% of Nd³⁺ were prepared to examine the effects of alkali fluorides in unmixed form:

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, where RF=LiF, NaF and KF. On the basis of the measured values of densities and refractive indices, the dielectric constant, reflection losses, molar refraction, Nd³⁺ ion concentration in glasses and several other physical properties were determined. Absorption spectra of these glasses were recorded and Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω_λ) have been calculated. Radiative lifetimes (τ_R) and branching ratios (β_R) for the fluorescent levels have been determined. To understand the laser efficiency of these materials, the values of the spectroscopic quality factor (Ω₄/Ω₆) has been evaluated and it is found that glass C could be suggested as a suitable lasing material.