Nonradiative Energy Losses and Radiation Trapping in Neodymium‐Doped Phosphate Laser Glasses

Fluorescence radiation trapping and nonradiative energy losses from the Nd 3+ 4 F 3/2 state are reported for two widely used commercial phosphate laser glasses (LHG-8 and LG-770). The effects of hydroxyl-group, transition-metal (Cu, Fe, V, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Pt), and rare-earth (Dy, Pr, Sm, and Ce) impurities on the 4 F 3/2 nonradiative decay rate in these glasses are quantified. Nd concentration quenching effects are reported for doping levels ranging from about 0.5 x 10 20 to 8.0 x 10 20 ions/cm 3 . The results are analyzed using the Forster-Dexter theory for dipolar energy transfer. Quenching rates for transition-metal ions correlate with the magnitude of spectral overlap for Nd emission (donor) and the metal ion absorption (acceptor). The nonradiative decay rates due to hydroxyl groups follow Forster-Dexter theory except at low Nd-doping levels (≤2 x 10 20 ions/cm 3 ) where the quenching rate becomes independent of the Nd concentration. The data suggest a possible correlation of OH sites with Nd ions in this doping region. The effects of radiation trapping on the fluorescence decay are reported as a function of sample size, shape, and doping level. The results agree well with the theory except for samples with small doping-length products; in these cases, multiple internal reflections from the sample surfaces enhance the trapping effect.

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