Investigation of concentration quenching and 1.3 μm emission in Nd3+-doped bismuth glasses

Nd2O3-doped 70Bi(2)O(3)-20B(2)O(3)-10SiO(2)-xNd(2)O(3) (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.5 mol%) bismuth glasses were prepared by the conventional melt-quenching method, and the Nd3+:F-4(3/2) -> I-4(3/2) fluorescence properties had been studied for different Nd3+ concentrations. The Judd-ofelt analysis for Nd3+ ions in bismuth boron silicate glasses was also performed on the base of absorption spectrum. The transition probabilities, excited state lifetimes, the fluorescence branching ratios, quantum efficiency and the stimulated emission cross-sections of F-4(3/2) -> I-4(3/2) transition were calculated and discussed. Based on the electric dipole-dipole interaction theory, the interaction parameters: C-DD, for the energy migration rate F-4(3/2), I-4(9/2) -> F-4(3/2), I-4(9/2) and C-DA, for cross-relaxation rate F-4(3/2), I-4(9/2) -> I-4(15/2), I-4(15/2), and/or F-4(3/2), I-4(9/2) -> I-4(13/2), I-4(15/2) in bismuth boron silicate glasses were about 18.4 x 10(-40) cm(6)/s and 3.4 x 10(-40) cm(6)/s, respectively. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.