Spectroscopic investigations of 1.06 μm emission in Nd3+-doped alkali niobium zinc tellurite glasses

Thermal, structural and optical properties of Nd3+ ions in tellurite glass (TeO2-ZnO-Na2O-Li2O-Nb2O5) have been investigated. Differential thermal analysis revealed reasonably good forming tendency of the glass composition. FTIR spectra were used to analyze the functional groups present in the glass. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters were derived from the absorption spectrum and used to calculate the radiative lifetime, branching ratio and stimulated emission cross-section of the 4F3/2→4I9/2, 11/2, 13/2 transitions. The quantum efficiency of the 4F3/2 level is comparable as well as higher than the typical value of the other tellurite based glasses. The decay from the 4F3/2 level is found to be single exponential for different concentrations of Nd3+ ions with a shortening of lifetime with increasing concentration. The experimental values of branching ratio and saturation intensity of 4F3/2→4I11/2 transition indicate the favourable lasing action with low threshold power.