Study of optical absorption spectra for Zn(PO3)2.xNd2O3 glasses

Optical absorption spectra are recorded at room temperature in the wavelength range from 200-1100 nm for the prepared Zn (PO3)2.xNd2O3 glass system where x=1,2,4,6,8 and wt. %. The density and molar volume of the studied glasses are found to be dependent on the composition. Two structural regions around 4 wt. % Nd2O3 content are observed. The optical absorption bands of Nd3+ ions for all the glass samples are found to be at the same position of wavelengths, but their intensities are dependent on the Nd2O3 content. The absorption bands are attributed and assigned to their intra configuration transitions of neodymium ion from 4I9/2 level to other various excited levels. The values of optical energy gap Eopt and the width of the band tail ΔE, are obtained and are found to be strongly dependent on glass composition. The compositional dependence behaviour of Eopt and ΔE confirmed the result obtained from density and molar volume measurements. (author)