Spectroscopic manifestations of the reorganization of the structure of neodymium optical centers in high-silica glasses

For purposes of studying Nd/sup 3 +/ activated vitreous silicas the spectral-luminescence properties of glasses of the following two systems were studied: Nd/sub 2/O/sub 3/-Me/sub 2/O-SiO/sub 2/ and Nd/sub 2/O/sub 3/-Me/sub 2/O-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-SiO/sub 2/ (Me = Na, K). Changes in the spectra of neodymium as a function of the concentration of the buffer components showed changes in the structure of the neodymium centers. The absorption, luminescence, and quantum-yield spectra of high-silica glasses of the Nd/sub 2//O/sub 3/-Me/sub 2/O-SiO/sub 2/ system depended largely on the ratio of mole fractions of Me/sub 2/O and Nd/sub 2/O/sub 3/. Several Al/sup 3 +/ and Me/sup +/ cations entered into the composition of the activator of the Nd optical center and were arranged in the second coordination sphere of Nd/sup 3 +/ determining the specific properties of the center.