Optical properties of neodymium ion doped lithium borate glasses

Lithium borate glasses of composition 30Li₂O-10MO-59B₂O₃:1Nd₂O₃ (MO= ZnO, CaO and CdO) were prepared by conventional melt quenching method. The amorphous nature of these glasses was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed reasonably good forming tendency of the glass composition. FTIR spectra were used to analyze the presence of BO₃ and BO₄ functional groups in the glass. Optical absorption spectra of these glasses were investigated. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ωλ (λ=2,4,6) are evaluated from the intensities of various absorption bands of optical absorption spectra. The comparison of Ω₂ parameter for the present three glasses shows the highest value for ZnBNd glass, indicating the highest covalent character of this glass. (author)