Lasing transition at 1.06 μm emission in Nd 3 + -doped borate-based tellurium calcium zinc niobium oxide glasses for high-power solid-state lasers.

The spectroscopic properties of Tellurium Calcium Zinc Niobium oxide Borate (TCZNB) glasses of composition (in mol%) 10TeO2  + 15CaO + 5ZnO + 10 Nb2 O5  + (60 - x)B2 O3  + Nd2 O3 (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mol%) have been investigated experimentally. The three phenomenological intensity parameters Ω2 , Ω4, Ω6 have been calculated using the Judd-Ofelt theory and in turn radiative properties such as radiative transition probabilities, emission cross-sections, branching ratios and radiative lifetimes have been estimated. The trend found in the JO intensity parameter is Ω2  > Ω6  > Ω4 If Ω6  > Ω4 , the glass system is favourable for the laser emission 4 F3 /2  → 4 I11 /2 in the infrared (IR) wavelength. The experimental values of branching ratio of 4 F3 /2  → 4 I11 /2 transition indicate favourable lasing action with low threshold power. The evaluated total radiative transition probabilities (AT ), stimulated emission cross-section (σe ) and gain bandwidth parameters (σe  × Δλp ) were compared with earlier reports. An energy level analysis has been carried out considering the experimental energy positions of the absorption and emission bands.