Spectroscopic properties of Nd3+ ions in garnet compounds forming in the Y2O3-Ga2O3 system

Detailed spectroscopic investigations are made for cubic Nd3+ doped Y3Ga5O12 and YGaO3 garnet crystals, formed in the physico-chemical Y2O3-Ga2O3 system with sesqui-oxide relations 3:5 and 1:1. As result of absorption and luminescence spectra analysis, the Stark splittings of the lowest 4F3/2 and 4Isub(9/2-15/2) manifolds of the Nd3+ ions are determined with high accuracy. This allows to make reliable identification of induced transitions measured before in Y3Ga5O12-Nd3+ crystals. Some spectroscopic characteristics of the Nd3+ ions in Y3Ga5O12 and YGaO3 crystals, such as luminescent lifetime of the metastable state, intermanifold and Stark luminescence branching ratios, linewidths, luminescence quantum efficiency, as well as peak cross-sections and spontaneous transition probabilities are also determined. These characteristics are necessary for a theoretical description of the functional properties of lasers based on the above mentioned media. (author)