Optical Properties of Rare-earth-doped Germanate Glasses
Author: Herbert G. Lipson
Publisher:
Published: 1970
Total Pages: 80
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAbsorption spectra were used to determine the effect of modifier ions on the splitting and relative intensity of neodymium spectral terms in germanate and other glasses. The behavior of spectral components is related to the degree of inhomogeneous broadening and changes in the site symmetry of the neodymium ion. A similarity between the wavelength position of neodymium term levels and their total width in glasses and crystalline neodymium oxide has been observed. Fluorescence spectra for neodymium, erbium, and holmium ions in sodium germanate glass are reported and the absorption lines involved in excitation with both lamp and laser sources discussed. The lines of an argon-ion laser are found to be more convenient and powerful sources for the excitation of rare earth ion fluorescence than mercury vapor or tungsten lamp sources. The energy level diagram of neodymium in sodium germanate glass was determined from absorption and fluorescence peak spectra. A relationship between the strength of infrared absorption bands involved in cross-relaxation processes and the extent of neodymium fluorescence quenching was observed. Fluorescence conversion efficiencies comparable or higher than those of commercial laser glasses are found for neodymium in sodium germanate glass by both laser and lamp excitation methods. Germanate glasses show good potential as laser hosts for a number of rare earth ions. (Author).
