Enhanced 1057 nm luminescence peak and radiative properties of laser pump Nd3+-doped sodium borate glasses

This paper presents a study on the spectroscopic and radiative properties of Nd³⁺ ions in sodium-borate glasses (B₂O₃-Na₂O-PbO-ZnO-Li₂O). The thermal behaviors of the sample glasses were observed using thermogravimetric analysis (DTA) and a -12% total mass changes was recorded during a thermal treatment from 75°C to 900°C. The Judd-Ofelt parameters (Ω_2,4,6) have been computed from the experimental and theoretical oscillator strengths, as well as from the optical absorption spectra. Several important radiative properties such as radiative transition probability (A_R), branching ratio (β_R), emission cross section (σ_e) and fluorescence lifetime (τ) of the ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_11/2 transition have been obtained and compared with other glasses from previous studies. The calculations of emission cross section and quantum efficiency have shown that the 1.0 mol.% Nd³⁺-doped glass makes a good potential laser candidate at the ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_11/2 transition.